How To Prepare For Endoscopy

Endoscopy is like any other medical procedure; its success largely depends on the preparation. If you're advised for endoscopy, your doctor will give you instructions as part of the procedure's preparation. These instructions may include the following:

Fasting
A few hours prior to the surgery (around 4-8 hours), you will be given a nothing per orem (NPO) order which means that you shouldn't eat or drink anything, not even water. This is to make sure that the stomach is empty for the procedure.

Stop taking certain medications
Prior to endoscopy, you should discuss with your doctor about your medications including prescribed and over-the-counter drugs. This is because there are certain medications that you must stop taking a few days prior to the procedure. These include blood-thinning agents as they increase your risk of bleeding if procedures are to be done during endoscopy.

Insulin and anti-inflammatory medications are also put into halt as they can interfere with the effects of sedatives. If you're currently taking medications for chronic conditions like high blood pressure, you will be given with detailed instructions by your doctor regarding changes in dosage or timing.

Be aware of certain risks
Knowing the risks involved in the procedure enable you to prepare better for it. Some of the known risks associated with endoscopy include aspiration, allergic reaction, bleeding, and tearing.

Aspiration may occur if food or drink gets into the lungs. This is why it's important to follow the doctor's orders when it comes to consumption of food or drinks prior to endoscopy.

Allergic reaction may happen as a response to the sedative given. Bleeding and tearing can result from the procedure done during endoscopy.

Dress comfortably
Although sedatives may be given to help you relax during the procedure, it's still important to feel comfortable with what you're wearing (clothing may cause some discomfort).

Prior to endoscopy, you'll be advised to remove your glasses or dentures.

Plan for your recovery
Sedatives are usually given to help you relax and make you more comfortable during the procedure. Once the effects of the sedatives wear off, you will feel drowsy. You may also experience impairment in memory, reaction, and even judgment. Hence, you should plan ahead for recovery even before you undergo endoscopy.

Prior to the procedure, you should be able to find someone who can take you home once endoscopy is done. You may also want to take a few days off from work (a day or two) and avoid making important decisions immediately after the procedure.

The key to successful medical procedure, whether it's endoscopy or a completely different one, is right preparation and mindset. By taking into account the things mentioned above, you will more likely end up with a successful procedure. 

What You Need To Know About Advanced Gastrointestinal (GI) Interventional Endoscopy

Advanced gastrointestinal (GI) interventional endoscopy is an endoscopic procedure used to diagnose and treat a wide range of gastrointestinal diseases. These diseases are conditions the involve the esophagus, stomach, biliary system, pancreas, and even the small bowel and colon.

Some of the known applications of advanced GI interventional endoscopy includes the following:

• removal of bile duct stones
• GI tract stenting which is a common palliative treatment for esophageal and gastric cancer
• control of GI bleeding which is common in cases like diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, polyps, and gastrointestinal cancer   

Unlike traditional gastric surgeries, advanced GI interventional endoscopy only makes use of thin flexible tubes inserted into the body’s orifice like the mouth. Because it doesn’t require an open surgery, patients who are avoiding invasive procedures are opting for this kind of procedure.

Aside from faster healing process and less chances of getting infection and post-op bleeding, this form of interventional endoscopy is also preferred by many patients because it can be done in an outpatient basis. In fact, patients can return on the same day that the procedure is done.

Interventional Endoscopy vs Diagnostic Endoscopy

Interventional endoscopy and diagnostic endoscopy may have similarities as they are both endoscopic procedures but they have distinct differences too.

As its name implies, diagnostic endoscopy is basically used for diagnosing diseases. This endoscopic procedure inspects the lining of the gastrointestinal tract with the use of an endoscope. The tiny light and camera at the tip of the endoscope guides the doctor as he advances the tube into the gastrointestinal tract.

Interventional endoscopy is also used for diagnosing gastrointestinal diseases. However, on top of that, it can also be used to treat these diseases. Interventional endoscopy  allows endoscopists to perform surgeries from the inside. This is made possible through a channel within an endoscope where a specialist can insert miniature instruments like tissue sampling devices, injection catheters, thermal coagulation probes, and needles and knives to perform the procedure.

At present, several hospitals in the United States are offering this type of endoscopic procedure including the advanced gastrointestinal interventional endoscopy.

Interventional Endoscopy encompasses a variety of endoscopic procedures used to diagnose and treat diseases that are typically beyond the scope of regular endoscopic techniques. By combining advanced imaging and device technology with technical expertise, our physicians are helping patients to avoid more invasive traditional treatment approaches such as surgery. These procedures are minimally invasive, meaning they are performed using thin flexible tubes advanced through the body's natural orifices such as the mouth and rectum, thus avoiding the complications associated with surgery and providing faster recovery times. Interventional endoscopy is utilized in the treatment of bile duct stones, stenting of the gastrointestinal tract, treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding, and the diagnosis and treatment of tumors involving the esophagus, stomach, biliary system, pancreas, small bowel and colon. The procedures are typically performed on an outpatient basis, and most patients may return home the same day.