What is Endoscopy and Why do I need it?

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Becoming knowledgeable about the different diagnostic tests and medical examinations is definitely very handy nowadays. Even though we do not consider ourselves members of the health team, all of us are still prone to getting sick or becoming ill. In other words, no one can still escape the wrath of health problems. This is the reason why knowing a little background of the different tests being offered in hospitals and prescribed by doctors can be very useful since it allows us to have the idea of what we are about to take or undergo. Being educated is definitely one of the factors that could provide proper health interventions and hasten our recovery from certain diseases. One of the most common diagnostic test or procedure done in the hospitals is none other than the endoscopy. What is endoscopy and what are its benefits, risks and uses?

Endoscopy is a type of procedure that requires that viewing of the internal portion of the body through the use of an endoscope. An endoscope is a type of instrument that can examine or view the interior of a hollow organ or cavity in the body. This particular equipment consists of a long, thin and flexible tube that is attached to a light and video camera. This will then carry footages or videos of the interior portion of the body, which can then help doctors determine, analyze or diagnose the problem. The video is also being recorded in order to make it possible for doctors to check the video all over again. This type of procedure is commonly used these days since it is less invasive and it can also secure biopsies and sample from the inside. In addition to these, endoscopes are also capable of retrieving foreign objects.

What are the uses of endoscopy? Endoscopy is prescribed by physicians in order to confirm their diagnosis. Other diagnostic tests such as MRIs, X-rays and CT scans can produce unclear results. In case these things happen, doctors will usually prescribe their patients to undergo endoscopy in order to clearly see the problem. It is very necessary for doctors to find out exactly what is the main problem in order for immediate and appropriate treatment to be handed to the patient. Some of the most common conditions and illnesses that are diagnosed with the help of endoscopy include incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic diarrhea, stomach ulcers, internal bleeding, breathing disorders, urinary tract infections and a lot more.

Other conditions such as cancers are also being used with endoscopy in order to obtain biopsies and samples internally without the need of resorting to surgeries and operations. Some of the most common areas obtain with biopsies using endoscopy are the lungs, stomach and the intestines. Some of the common types of endoscopy used these days include amnioscopy, which is the examination of the amniotic cavity and fetus; arthroscopy, which is utilized to examine joints; bronchoscopy, to view the different air passages and the lungs and of course, colonoscopy, which deals with the examination of the colon. These are just some of the facts pertaining to the medical procedure called endoscopy.