Endoscopy is a nonsurgical medical procedure where doctors observe a patient’s digestive tract.
They perform this procedure with the help of a special endoscopy instrument called the “endoscope’. The endoscope is a flexible tube that can be inserted into a patient’s alimentary tract to examine their digestive tract. The endoscope comprises of a camera and a high intensity light that allows the doctor to get real time feedback of the digestive tract on a coloured monitor. The light that is being used in these procedures must come from a powerful source. Therefore, two types of light sources are most preferred, a halogen lamp and a xenon lamp. The latter being more expensive.
During a procedure called upper endoscopy, an endoscope is passed through the buccal cavity into the oesophagus, enabling the doctor to examine the oesophagus, stomach and upper part of small intestine.
Similarly, in another procedure, the endoscope can be passed through the colon to observe the large intestine. This procedure is usually called colonoscopy.
Other than the Endoscope here are some more endoscopy instruments essential for the procedure-
- Biopsy forceps– They are utilized to remove unwanted tissue growth observed during an endoscopy.
- Cytology brush– They are used to take cell samples from a patient’s digestive tract for further tests.
- Flexible forceps– They are shaped like tongs and are used to take tissue samples during endoscopy.
- Suture removal forceps– They are used to remove stitches from a patient’s digestive tract who has undergone surgical procedure.
- Trocar– It is an instrument that is used to access the peritoneal cavity in endoscopy procedures.
- Curved sutures– Most widely used type of scissor in endoscopy surgery due to their ergonomic structure to cut sutures and mechanical dissection.
- Scissors with serrated edge– These scissors are preferred over normal scissors to cut slippery tissues.
