Endoscopic Therapy

What is endoscopic therapy?

Endoscopic therapy is a general term for a wide variety of treatments that are performed with small instruments or medications guided by an endoscope. An endoscope is a small, tube-like instrument that can be inserted into the body through a tiny incision or a body opening, such as the mouth. An endoscope also has a lighted camera that transmits pictures of the inside of your body to a video screen viewed by the physician. Physicians use an endoscope for close examination of the area being treated. Physicians use endoscopic therapy to treat certain common conditions, such as peptic ulcers, gallbladder disease, appendicitis, colon polyps, and endometriosis.

Types of endoscopic therapy

Endoscopic therapy can be provided during the following procedures:

• Arthroscopy is used to treat the joints and involves inserting an endoscope through a small incision near a joint.
• Bronchoscopy is used to treat the airways and lungs and is performed by inserting an endoscope through the mouth or nose into the windpipe and lungs.
• Colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy are used to treat the large intestine. These procedures involve inserting an endoscope into the large intestine through the anus.
• Cystoscopy and ureteroscopy are used to treat the urethra, bladder and ureters of the urinary system. These procedures are performed by inserting an endoscope through the urethra and into the bladder and possibly the ureters.
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreotography (ERCP) is endoscopy through the mouth into the esophagus, stomach and duodenum and can be used to treat gallstones and pancreatitis.
• Laparoscopy is used to treat the abdomen or pelvis and involves inserting an endoscope through a small incision in the abdominal or pelvic area.
• Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic therapy is used to treat the esophagus, stomach and duodenum, the first section of the small intestine. If only the esophagus is involved, it is called an esophagoscopy. If all of these organs are involved it is called an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The procedure is performed by inserting an endoscope through the mouth into the esophagus and possibly the stomach and duodenum, the first section of the small intestine.

Other surgical procedures that may be performed

Virtually all endoscopic therapy procedures involve examination of the body area being treated and taking computerized pictures that can be saved in your medical record. In addition, your doctor may also perform a biopsy, which is the removal of a sample of tissue to be examined for disease or cancer.

Why is endoscopic therapy performed?

Your doctor may recommend endoscopic therapy to treat a wide variety of diseases and conditions including:

• Abdominal, gynecologic and pelvic organ conditions, such as hernia repair and removal of the appendix, gallbladder, spleen, uterine fibroids, endometrial tissue, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, and abdominal or pelvic tumors or cancer
• Joint and orthopedic conditions, such as repair of rotator cuff conditions; carpal tunnel syndrome; loose bone or cartilage; and torn or damaged cartilage, tendons, or ligaments
• Lower gastrointestinal conditions, such as removal ofcolon polyps and treatment of bleeding from the colon
• Lung and airway conditions, such as draining a lung abscess; placement of a stent to keep an airway open due to obstruction form a growing tumor; removal of a foreign object or excessive fluid or mucus in the airway; and opening of a narrowed airway
• Upper gastrointestinal conditions, such as removal of polyps and foreign objects; widening of a narrowed esophagus; treatment of hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter, Barrett's esophagus, andesophageal cancer; treatment of bleeding due to esophageal varices and peptic ulcers; and removal of gallstones
• Urinary system conditions, such as removal of kidney stones

How is endoscopic therapy performed?