Endoscopy

An Endoscopy is used in medicine to look inside the body. The Endoscopy procedure uses an endoscope to examine the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of the body.

Endoscopes are minimally invasive and can be inserted into the openings of the body such as the mouth or anus.

Facts on Endoscopy:

Endoscopies are quick and relatively safe procedures.

The main reasons for Endoscopy are investigation, confirmation, and treatment.

Endoscopy can be used to remove Tumors or Polyps from the Digestive Tract.

Types:

Laryngoscopy.

Gastrointestinal tract:stomach,small intestine (enteroscopy), large intestine/colon (colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy),and anus (anoscopy).

Respiratory tract: Nose (rhinoscopy), lower respiratory tract (bronchoscopy).

Ear: Otoscopy

Urinary tract: Cystoscopy

Procedure:

There are three main reasons for carrying out an Endoscopy:

Investigation: If an individual is experiencing vomiting, abdominal pain, breathing disorders, stomach ulcers, difficulty swallowing, or gastrointestinal bleeding, for example an endoscope can be used to search for a cause.

Confirmation of a diagnosis: Endoscopy can be used to carry out a biopsy to confirm a diagnosis of cancer or other diseases.

Treatment: an endoscope can be used to treat an illness directly; for instance, Endoscopy can be used to cauterize (seal using heat) a bleeding vessel or remove a polyp.

Laryngoscopy

Doctors sometimes use a small device to look into your throat and larynx, or voice box. This procedure is called laryngoscopy.

When Is Laryngoscopy Needed?

Your doctor may do it to find out why you have a sore throat that won’t go away or to diagnose an ongoing problem such as coughing, hoarseness, or bad breath.

You have something stuck in your throat.

You have trouble breathing or swallowing.

You have an earache that won’t go away.

Needs to examine something that could be a sign of a more serious health problem such as cancer.

Needs to remove a growth.