An endoscopy involves the passage of a flexible camera into the upper or lower bowel allowing direct visualisation of the bowel lining. This includes gastroscopies (passage of the camera into the oesophagus, stomach and first half of the duodenum), flexible sigmoidoscopy (passage of the camera to approximately half way round the large bowel) and colonoscopy (passage of the camera all the way around the large bowel and into the end of the small bowel if needed.)
Trans-nasal gastrocopy
This is a new technique and has been regularly performed at the Curlew and St. Michael’s endoscopy units for over a year. It has been extremely well received by new and returning patients alike.
This procedure differs from conventional oral gastroscopy in that a thinner tube is passed through the nose, down the throat and into the gullet. The nasal passages have been numbed for comfort using an anaesthetic spray. The advantages of this technique are that the patient is able to talk throughout the procedure and the gag reflex is not stimulated. There is no need for sedation allowing the patient to return home far sooner.
We have had much interest from other endoscopy units around the UK and further afield who are keen to take up this technique. Due to the advantages to the patient we are confident that trans nasal gastroscopy will become routine in the future.
Click here to see a short clip……
Oral gastroscopy
This is performed by using a numbing throat spray or on occasion under a LIGHT sedation. The test takes approximately 5 minutes and biopsies may be taken. These are not painful.
The patient journey is described in more detail under the different unit’s information section.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
This is performed after the lower bowel has been cleared using a strong laxative taken by mouth.
The flexible camera is inserted via the anus into the lower bowel and the endoscopist will negotiate the various corners to reach half way round the colon. Biopsies are taken if indicated. These are not painful. The patient is free to watch the whole procedure on the monitor if they wish!
Flexible sigmoidoscopy is not normally done under sedation.
Colonoscopy
This test allows the endoscopist to look around the complete colon (large bowel). This test is usually performed using pethidine (a strong pain killer) and midazolam (a sedative). Other drugs may be used to relax the bowel.
The camera is inserted via the anus and aims to reach the caecum (the meeting of the large and small bowel)
Sometimes, if indicated, the camera can look into the small bowel.
Again biopsies may be taken and polyps, if found, are removed painlessly.