Everything you need to know about endoscopy ========================================= Endoscopy is a scientific and advanced method that is used to diagnose and sometimes treat some diseases. Although most of them know it as a method to diagnose diseases of the digestive system, it is also used to examine and treat other parts of the body. All of us may experience problems in parts of our digestive system, some of which are temporary and resolve quickly. But some problems are serious and require careful examination and specialized treatment, in which case you should see a doctor after observing the initial symptoms. Some diseases such as gastric ulcer, reflux, esophageal or stomach cancer are easily treated if they are diagnosed in the early stages. An important issue in this diagnostic method is the selection of a specialist and experienced doctor. Most people are afraid when they hear the name of this method and think it is a painful thing. While the doctor's skill and not applying extra pressure has a great impact on the patient's comfort. Of course, the entry of the endoscope may be a little uncomfortable, but this problem can also be solved by using local anesthesia. Stay with us in this article to learn more and get answers to questions about this diagnostic method. What is endoscopy? It is a diagnostic method, also known as endoscopy, which allows the doctor to examine the upper digestive tract more closely. The upper digestive tract includes parts such as the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and the beginning of the small intestine. This work is done by a specialist doctor to diagnose problems in the upper digestive system. It is considered a safe method and the results obtained from it are very accurate. It is possible to observe the cavities and channels inside the body using this method, and if there is a problem, it can be easily diagnosed. There are different types of endoscopy, each of which is used to investigate specific problems. This is done by a specialized tool called an endoscope. This procedure is different for each person according to the condition of the patient and the cause of the disease. Examining symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, swallowing problems, gastrointestinal bleeding, presence of polyps and even cancer is done accurately using this method. What kind of tool is the endoscope? This specialized device consists of a narrow and flexible tube with a camera attached to one end and is used to observe the internal organs and blood vessels of the body. This tool is usually inserted into the body through the mouth or through a surgical incision, and it can be used to examine different parts of the body such as the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Early endoscopes were made of several mirrors and lenses. Because the principles of its work is the use of a mirror and the light reflected to it. But with the passage of time and the advancement of technology, about 30 years ago, optical fiber was used in the construction of this device. New endoscopes provide doctors with brighter and clearer images. This tool is not only for observing the inside of the stomach, but it is also used for other body parts. The images taken from the body with the new tool are transferred to a video processor and this video is used in most surgeries. This tool is generally classified into two types, soft or flexible and hard, which usually use more soft types. Because its tubes are narrower than the hard types and it enters the organs of the body more easily and causes less damage to the organs during the examination. Using this type of tool is easier for both the patient and the doctor. What are the uses of endoscopy? This diagnostic method has many applications in the field of gastrointestinal medicine, and many doctors use it to find the cause of some diseases. Usually, this work is prescribed after examination by a doctor for people who have the following symptoms. • Pain in the upper abdomen that cannot be explained. so that it bothers the person. • Sometimes, as a result of the return of food from the stomach to the esophagus or mouth, a person feels a burning and unpleasant feeling, which is called reflux. People who have stomach acid reflux must be examined with this method. • Presence of nausea and vomiting that lasts for a long time. • Those who have difficulty swallowing food and feel that food is stuck in their throat. • When stool is like tar or blood is seen in vomiting. • Diarrhea that continues for a long time. • If tests have already been done for the digestive system and the results are abnormal, endoscopy should be used for a more accurate diagnosis. • Existence of wound, lump, bleeding or any other problem that needs follow-up and accurate diagnosis. • Of course, this method is sometimes used in addition to diagnosing problems in the upper digestive system to treat cases such as bleeding or cutting polyps. ### What measures should be taken before endoscopy? After examining the person, the doctor warns him of some things. Of course, the care is different for each member according to the type of operation. Some precautions that are recommended before doing this are: - A person should be aware of his physical condition and obtain the necessary information through reading or searching on the Internet. - Being aware of this work and how to do it is one of the necessities and helps to reduce stress. A person can ask his doctor to explain this to him. - If you have a specific disease such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc., you must inform the doctor to take the necessary measures. - In case of taking special medicine and supplements, you must inform the doctor. Because some medicines, such as blood thinners, should not be taken a few days in advance. Because it has a problem with blood coagulation and may cause more bleeding during work. - People who take blood pressure medicine do not need to change their use and take their medicine according to the previous routine. Only people with diabetes and injecting insulin should take their medicine one third less than the usual amount. - To prevent hypoglycemia, consuming natural honey juice can be effective. - A person who goes for an endoscopy should not eat for 8-10 hours before and the stomach should be completely empty so that the examination can be done easily. If the stomach is full, it is not possible to perform the operation and the person may experience nausea and vomiting. You can drink water and liquids two to three hours before. - Having any kind of allergy to all kinds of drugs should be reported to the doctor so that the patient does not have any problems during anesthesia. - It is recommended not to drive before doing this. - Since this work is done under anesthesia, it is better to have a companion with the patient. How is endoscopy performed? This work can only be done by a specialist doctor in the office or hospital. To start, the patient should lie on his side or on his back. A monitor is attached to the person's body so that the images taken from the inside of the body can be seen on its screen. Before starting the work, the oxygen level and breathing, heart rate and blood pressure will be checked by the doctor. Because the entry of the endoscope may be a little painful, the doctor sprays a local anesthetic into the patient's mouth or injects the anesthetic into the patient's body through a vein so that the patient does not feel pain during the test. After the patient is ready, the head of the endoscope is placed on his tongue and he is asked to swallow it slowly. In this case, the esophagus is opened in a normal state and allows the passage of the endoscope. Although the patient is not able to speak, he can communicate with the doctor by producing sound. During endoscopy, oral saliva is drained by a suction. To observe the stomach in detail, they inflate it using the endoscope tube so that the folds of the stomach are opened and all its parts can be seen easily. The camera at the head of the endoscope sends the received images to the monitor so that the doctor is aware of the existing problem. Images are saved for further review if needed. During this operation, if the doctor observes a suspicious case, he takes a small sample of the tissue of that duct for further examination under a microscope, which is called a biopsy test or sampling. Of course, the patient will not feel this. If needed, a special tool is inserted into the digestive tract to remove the polyp or ulcer and performs the necessary procedure by viewing the monitor screen. Sometimes, the doctor detects that there is bleeding in a part of the digestive system and takes measures to fix it. If a person has difficulty swallowing food, the narrow parts of the esophagus are made a little wider. After the work is done, the endoscope tube is slowly removed. This procedure takes 10 to 15 minutes. ### What are the advantages of using the endoscopic method? **Using this widely used method has many advantages, some of which are mentioned below:** With the help of a narrow tube and a camera attached to it, you can see the inside of the body and it does not require surgery. It is less stressful and risky than the surgical method. It is an outpatient procedure and the patient does not need to be hospitalized for a long time. If necessary, the person will be admitted to the hospital for one day so that this work can be done with local anesthesia. Due to the fact that natural cavities such as the mouth are used to enter the tool into the body, no extra tissue is created as a result of cutting that part. The recovery period passes quickly and the person can finally do their work after a few hours to a day. The results obtained with this method are very accurate and help the doctor a lot in diagnosing the disease. ### What should be observed after endoscopy? After doing this, it is necessary to observe some points so that the patient does not feel uncomfortable and does not suffer complications. Some of these points are as follows: • It takes some time for the person to regain consciousness. Normally, the patient needs about an hour for the anesthetic and sedative to wear off. • In case of receiving sedative medicine, one person must be present with the patient. • After performing this procedure, the person will not have any problem eating and does not need to avoid any special food. Except for people who have diabetes or other special diseases. • After the effect of the anesthetic wears off, the person is able to carry out his daily activities and does not need the help of others. • A person may have a mild sore throat or breathing problems after the endoscopy. Of course, these symptoms are temporary. If this is done without pressure, the patient will not feel pain. Does this method have side effects? Performing this diagnostic method may have complications. Feeling windy and puffy is one of the most common side effects that appear after doing this. Of course, the emergence of complications is not the same in all people, and some people may not experience any complications. This is despite the fact that in some people several cases are seen together. Endoscopy requires drugs that must be used before. Some people may experience nausea from these drugs. In this case, the nurse will give them special medicines to get rid of this annoying feeling. Most people can eat as before after doing this, but some people cannot eat easily due to discomfort in the upper digestive tract. Although some side effects are not very common, they can still happen. Some of these symptoms are as follows: - Due to the stimulation of the digestive system, food may go from the stomach to the lungs. There is a possibility of bleeding. - A part of the upper gastrointestinal tract may be torn and injured due to the passage of the endoscope tube. - The skin around the intravenous injection site becomes red or swollen. All of the above cases are just a possibility and do not necessarily happen to all people. ####