How is endoscopy used in gastroenterology?
Dr Tan Chi Chiu discusses the evolution of endoscopic surgery in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive system diseases
In order to visualize as much as possible of the digestive system gastroenterologists use endoscopes, which are high-tech, long and flexible tubes with cameras and lights at one end. These devices allow to put surgical instruments through the tubes into the digestive system in order to either take biopsies or perform some kind of therapeutic procedure.
Endoscopes are designed to be extremely comfortable for patients. They are passed gently into the mouth and down the oesophagus and from there into the stomach and into the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine. The endoscope that examines the upper digestive tract is called the gastroscope and its use is limited to the upper part of the small intestine.
The colonoscope, instead, is used to examine the bottom part of the digestive system. This device is longer because of the distance it has to travel. Through endoscopy the tissues of the digestive system can be studied to visually diagnose some diseases, such as inflammation, tumours or polyps. At the same time the procedure allows to biopsy tissues and diagnose disease.
Through endoscopes we can also do therapeutic procedures. For example, if endoscopists see a polyp they have to remove it to find out whether it may lead to cancer.
Dr Tan Chi Chiu is a clinical gastroenterologist, hepatologist and specialist in internal medicine at Gastroenterology and Medicine International. He can be reached at +65 6471 2212.
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