Surgery – Endoscopy

An endoscopy procedure uses an endoscope to examine the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of the body. Unlike many other medical imaging techniques, endoscopes are inserted directly into the organ.

There are many types of endoscopes. Depending on the site in the body and type of procedure an endoscopy may be performed either by a doctor or a surgeon. A patient may be fully conscious or anaesthetised during the procedure.

A gastroscopy is a technique to look directly into your gullet (oesophagus), stomach and the first part of the small bowel (duodenum). A colonoscopy is an examination of the large bowel (colon).

This test is a very accurate way of looking at the lining of your upper digestive tract and to establish whether there is any disease present.

The instrument used in this investigation is called a gastroscope. It is flexible and has a diameter less than that of a little finger.

Within each gastroscope is an illumination channel which enables light to be directed onto the lining of your upper digestive tract and another which relays pictures back to the doctor onto a television screen.

During the investigation, the doctor may need to take some tissue samples (biopsies) from the lining of your upper digestive tract for analysis: this is painless. The samples will be retained.

A video recording and/ or photographs may be taken for your records.

This test is a very accurate way of looking at the lining of your large bowel (colon), to establish whether there is any disease present. This test also allows us to take tissue samples (biopsy) for analysis by the Pathology Department if necessary.

The instrument used in this investigation is called a colonoscope (scope) and is flexible. As with the gastroscope, there is an illumination channel which enables light to be directed onto the lining of your bowel and another which relays pictures back, onto a television screen. This enables the doctor to have a clear view and to check whether or not disease or inflammation is present.

During these investigations the doctor may need to take some samples from the lining of your colon for analysis, this is painless. These samples will be retained. A video recording and photographs can be taken for record and documentation purposes.

During these investigations the doctor may need to take some samples from the lining of your colon for analysis, this is painless. These samples will be retained. A video recording and photographs can be taken for record and documentation purposes.