Traditional Endoscopy

OVERVIEW

• An endoscope is a long, thin, lighted, flexible tube with a small camera attached that doctors use to examine the esophagus to screen for abnormalities. 1, 2
• During endoscopies, fewer than 0.2%, or one person in every 500, experience complications. 3, 4

PROCEDURE

• Doctors give patients sedatives intravenously to relax them and ease discomfort. 1, 2, 5
• Doctors spray patients’ throats with numbing agents to prevent gagging and to relieve feelings of anxiety. 1, 2, 5
• Endoscope is inserted through patient’s mouth and into the esophagus; the camera on the end of the endoscope is able to capture images of the esophagus. 2, 5
• Doctors watch images on a TV monitor, looking for damage caused by diseases such as GERD, esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancers. 1, 3
• Biopsies (tissue samples) are usually collected during the procedure. 1
• Procedure lasts about 20 to 30 minutes and is done in an endoscopy suite or hospital. 1
• Recovery may take two hours for sedatives to wear off; patients cannot operate a car after the procedure, typically cannot return to work that day, and may experience a sore throat for two days. 1, 2

CONDITIONS THAT CAN BE DIAGNOSED

• Heartburn and GERD 1, 2
• Bleeding in the GI (gastrointestinal) tract 1, 2, 5
• Swallowing difficulties 1, 2, 5
• Inflammations 2, 5
• Tumors 2, 5
• Esophagitis 2, 5
• Stricture 5
• Narrowing of the esophagus 5
• Pre-cancerous conditions such as Barrett’s esophagus 6

BENEFITS

• Generally provides a more accurate examination than X-rays in the detection of inflammations and tumors of the esophagus. 2

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

• Reactions to sedatives — cardiopulmonary complications 7
• Bleeding in biopsy areas 2, 5
• Continuing swallowing difficulties 2, 5
• Worsening throat pain 2, 5
• Fever 2, 5
• Infection
• Tears or perforations through the wall of the GI tract

REFERENCES

1. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/upperendoscopy
2. http://www.sages.org/pi_egd.html
3. http://my.webmd.com/hw/heartburn/hw267678.asp?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056A91C-9531713CA348}
4. http://www.aafp.org/x20091.xml
5. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003888.htm#How%20to%20prepare%20for%20the%test
6. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/barretts/
7. http://givenimaging.com/Cultures/en-US/Given/English/About/NewsAndEvents/PressReleases/PR20041101.htm

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Traditional Endoscopy