Esophagus Scope Procedures

Digestive disorders from indigestion to ulcers are typically identified with an esophagus scope procedure. These are most often mildly uncomfortable and are useful for classifying a variety of digestive ailments. Some require the patient to be sedated while others take just a few minutes within a physicians office. The scope can vary in size, and is used with various attachments for biopsies and x-ray purposes.

Upper Endoscopy

• This procedure allows the physician to look at the patient's esophagus, stomach and duodenum. Patients are initially given a numbing agent which allows the throat to relax. Often patients are given sedatives to allow for complete relaxation in this mildly invasive process. A small lighted tube is swallowed and the tube transmits images that allow the physician to see the fine details of the previously mentioned organs. The scope also is capable of obtaining biopsies when additional instruments are attached.

  This procedure is mainly used to identify problems with digestion, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bleeding, indigestion and difficulty swallowing. Issues such as ulcers, which are generally missed during x-rays, are commonly identified with this procedure.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

• Otherwise known as ERCP, this technique is used for observation of the gallbladder, pancreas and liver. After a numbing agent is administered, the scope is inserted down the patient's throat and once the doctor studies the pancreas and liver a catheter is inserted in the scope, and the scope is inserted into the bile ducts. Once this occurs, dye is released into the ducts, allowing for abnormalities to be located on an x-ray.

  The scope doesn't interfere with breathing, and a fast is required for at least six hours before the process can begin. Complications are rare but usually consist of infection, bowel perforation and bleeding. It is not advised to drive yourself home after this procedure as the various medicines that are administered leave the patient groggy.

Transnasal Esophagoscopy

• The Transnasal Esophagoscopy is a relatively new procedure. With the development of smaller scopes, this process allows for the scope to be inserted into the nasal cavity and then down the throat. Because of its small size, numbing agents or sedatives are not necessary with this procedure, which bypasses the risks that sedatives pose. A Transnasal Esophagoscopy can be done in a doctor's office and requires little or no recuperation. It also takes a mere 10 minutes to complete.

  This process is used to identify digestive disorders and is largely replacing the barium swallow which is unreliable as it misses important details, such as lining changes in the digestive organs.