Ancient healers could not even imagine that in the future it would be possible to examine the internal organs of a person and not make incisions on the body. At present, such a survey has become a reality. Medical science is constantly developing, thanks to which it is possible to detect various pathological conditions in a timely manner and provide the necessary assistance to patients. Endoscopic studies allow you to assess the condition of the tissues of hollow organs from the inside. There are several varieties of such diagnostics, which will be discussed in this article.
What is endoscopy?
In medical practice, the term "endoscopy" means the examination of internal organs with a cavity, using lighting devices. To perform this procedure, an endoscope is used - rigid or flexible tubes of small diameter. In the first case, the device is based on an optical fiber system. On one side is a light bulb, and on the other - an eyepiece that allows you to adjust the size of the image. Flexible endoscopes allow you to explore the most inaccessible places. By the beamfibers transmit a clear picture despite the bends of the system. A new step in the development of this field of diagnostics is capsule endoscopy.
With the help of flexible endoscopes, you can not only diagnose, but also take tissue samples (aspiration biopsy) for a more detailed study of the pathological process. Endoscopic studies allow you to determine the nature of the disease, track the dynamics of treatment. A unique device allows you to assess the condition of almost any organ. The procedure itself is carried out exclusively in medical institutions by specially trained personnel.
Method advantages
The main advantage of diagnosing with an endoscope is the ability to see the state of internal organs without surgical intervention. The procedure is painless for the patient. The only thing he can feel is discomfort. During the examination, the person is conscious.
The diagnostic method is sometimes used for operations. In this case, a small skin incision is made through which a tube with a lighting device will be inserted. Such manipulation is necessary when removing benign neoplasms on internal organs, when removing foreign bodies. Endoscopy can be used to administer drugs.
Fields of Endoscopy
The advent of endoscopy made it possible to examine almost all organs. The diagnostic method is used in the following areas of medicine:
- gynecology (colposcopy,hysteroscopy);
- neurology and neurosurgery (ventriculoscopy);
- pulmonology (bronchoscopy);
- otolaryngology (otoscopy, pharyngolaryngoscopy);
- gastroenterology (gastroscopy, colonoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, laparoscopy);
- cardiology (cardioscopy);
- urology (cystoscopy, ureteroscopy).
Recently, endoscopy has also been used to diagnose knee joints. In the process of diagnostics (arthroscopy), a special device is introduced to the patient - an arthroscope, which allows the specialist to assess the condition of the joint and perform the procedure with minimal surgical intervention. Conducting endoscopic studies also allows you to recognize the disease at an early stage, so they are often prescribed for the prevention of patients at risk.
Indications for bowel examination
The only way to see the condition of the bowel is to do an endoscopy. In medical terminology, endoscopic studies of this kind are called esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, rectomanoscopy. Indications for the diagnosis of the esophagus, stomach, large and small intestines, rectum are the following pathological conditions:
- Peptic ulcer.
- Suspicion of bleeding.
- Oncological diseases.
- Gastritis.
- Paraproctitis.
- Stool disorders.
- Hemorrhoids (chronic).
- Discharge of blood, mucus from the anus.
Depending on the preliminary diagnosis, the specialist will select the most appropriate variant of endoscopic examination.
Intestinal colonoscopy
One type of endoscopy is a colonoscopy. The method allows diagnosing the large intestine using a flexible colonoscope device, consisting of an eyepiece, a light source, a tube through which air is supplied and special forceps for sampling material. The device allows you to see a sufficiently high-quality image displayed on the screen, the state of the mucous membrane of the colon. The length of the tube that is used for this type of diagnosis is 1.5 meters.
The procedure is quite simple. The patient is asked to lie on the left side and pull the legs bent at the knees to the chest. After that, the doctor gently inserts the colonoscope into the rectum. The anus can first be lubricated with an anesthetic gel. The tube is gradually advanced inward, examining the walls of the intestine. For a clearer image during the diagnostic process, air is constantly supplied. The procedure takes no more than 10 minutes.
Do I need preparation?
Of course, in order to obtain an accurate picture of the condition of the large intestine, the patient should prepare for a colonoscopy. Preparation for endoscopic examination consists primarily in diet. Products that contribute to the retention of feces and increased gas formation should be excluded from the daily menu at least a week before the expected datediagnostics.
On the day of the examination, you should refrain from eating in the morning. Only liquids are allowed. Before the procedure itself, experts recommend cleansing the rectum with an enema or using laxatives.
Endoscopic examination of the intestine - colonoscopy is a painless procedure and therefore you should not be afraid of it. The patient may feel only slight discomfort. In some cases, the manipulation is carried out under anesthesia, but most often it is limited to sedatives and painkillers.
Casule Endoscopy
A relatively new direction in the diagnosis of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is capsule endoscopy. The method appeared only in 2001. The endoscope used for research resembles a medicinal capsule, which greatly facilitates the process of introducing the device. This tablet should simply be swallowed with water. The device is activated immediately after opening the individual package. Passing through the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, the capsule takes a lot of pictures that will later help to make a diagnosis.
The advantages of this method are obvious - the patient does not need to swallow the hose or worry about the colonoscopy. The capsule enters the most remote parts of the intestine, where there is no access to a conventional endoscope. On the other hand, this method does not allow taking material for biopsy, removing polyps. Therefore, doctors still prefer to use complex capsule and traditional endoscopy of the digestive tract.
Esophagoscopy
Endoscopic examination of the esophagus is performed to diagnose various pathologies. Most often, esophagoscopy is combined with an examination of the stomach and duodenum. This allows you to get a more complete picture of the state of the digestive tract. The method allows to reveal ulcers, hemorrhages, inflammatory processes, polyps on the mucous membrane. Taking material for a biopsy allows you to establish the etiology of the disease. Inspection is carried out with both a flexible and a rigid device.
Indications for examination are structural anomalies, gastroesophageal reflux, chemical burns of the mucous membrane, the need for a biopsy, the presence of a foreign body, inflammatory processes.
Endoscopic ultrasound
To diagnose the walls of the digestive tract, the method of endoscopy using ultrasound can be used. The latter allows you to get an image of the organs thanks to sound waves. This method is most often used to detect benign neoplasms, tumors, stones in the bile ducts, inflammation of the pancreas. Endoscopic examinations using ultrasound allow the evaluation of the mucous membrane of the entire digestive system.
The endoscope is inserted into the patient through the larynx, first into the esophagus, gradually moving it into the stomach and duodenum. The larynx is pretreatedanalgesic spray to relieve discomfort. Ultrasound may be needed to take tissue samples.
Consequences of the procedure
Endoscopic research methods in most cases do not cause serious disturbances in the body. If the procedure is carried out correctly, the patient can return to a normal lifestyle in a few hours without feeling any discomfort. However, there are still situations when, after the diagnosis, a person is forced to seek medical help. The most frequently recorded damage to the walls of organs during the passage of the endoscope. This can be determined by a pain syndrome that does not go away for a long time, the presence of blood in the feces.
You may experience an allergic reaction to the analgesic used in the study. In this case, the use of antihistamines is indicated. Arrhythmia after the procedure often develops in patients with cardiovascular pathologies.
Proper preparation of the patient for endoscopic examinations will avoid many undesirable consequences. The diagnosis itself should be carried out in a hospital or clinic. Beforehand, the doctor must exclude all contraindications for such an examination.
