What is an Endoscopy?
Endoscopy refers to a procedure by which your doctor visualises inside of your body cavity using a light-weighted, thin, flexible instrument known as an endoscope which has a camera and lens at its tip. It can be virtually used to view any system which has an external opening. Within the gastroenterology perspective It refers to getting a direct look at the various parts of your digestive system like oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. In upper Gastrointestinal endoscopy (which is popularly referred to as endoscopy in public) your doctor visualises upper part of your digestive system like oesophagus, stomach, upper part of your small intestine which is called duodenum. In lower gastrointestinal endoscopy (which is popularly called colonoscopy) your doctor visualised lower part of your digestive system like colon, rectum, and anal canal. Newer and advanced forms of endoscopies include small bowel enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy which are used to visualise your small intestine.

What are the various forms of endoscopic procedures and their adjunctive procedures in general ?
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy/ Endoscopy
Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy/ Colonoscopy
Side viewing endoscope/ Duodenoscopy
Cholangioscopy
Small bowel enteroscopy /double balloon enteroscopy
Capsule enteroscopy
Endoscopic ultrasound

Do you need to undergo an Upper Gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure?
When you present to your doctor with symptoms related to digestive system like bloating, abdominal distension, excessive belching, or eructation (commonly referred to as gas problem), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and many other such problems; you may be a candidate to undergo the endoscopy. In this way it is used to identify your problem.
It also allows your doctor to take a sample of your tissue (biopsy) for arriving at an accurate diagnosis.
Endoscopy also helps in treatment of certain problems like gastrointestinal bleeding, difficulty in swallowing etc.
To sum it up it is used to investigate symptoms, to diagnose your disease and treat your problem.

How is the procedure of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy done?
It is typically done in an elective setting on an outpatient basis after a period of overnight fasting. It is usually done when you are awake, but if you are anxious or apprehensive you can request your doctor to carry out it under sedation (a lighter form of anaesthesia). Entire procedure will be briefed to you by the nursing personnel who will be accompanying and assisting you during the entire procedure. Thin, flexible fully sterilized endoscope is gently inserted into your mouth under the vision while you are comfortable lying over a couch on to your left side and the procedure is carried out. The procedure is typically painless and lasts less than 5 minutes. Once the procedure is completed you will have only minor abdominal and throat discomfort which settles within a span of few minutes. Post-procedure you will be able to resume your daily routine after consultation with your doctor.

What should you know about the endoscopic equipment before you undergo the procedure?
With extensive research and expanding technology there are many advances in the field of medicine which help in early diagnosis, accurate treatment. It is important that your hospital and doctors keep in track with all the available advancements.
Advanced image enhancement modalities in endoscopy offer superiority over the traditional white light endoscopy. Blue laser imaging, linked colour imaging, narrow band imaging are the recent advancements in this field and are embraced in many internationally reputed centres of excellence. Simply stating image qualities in traditional white light endoscopy is like taking a picture in old generation non touch screen phone while that of advanced imaging modalities is like of high-end new generation touch screen phones.

Is the procedure of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy completely sterile??
To maintain the sterility and aseptic precautions various hospitals adapt different techniques. This is the least talked about part of the entire endoscopic procedure flow-chart. With increasing awareness of various hospital borne infections and emergence of pandemic in the form of COVID-19 sterilisation of endoscopes is gaining much more importance. Simple wiping of endoscopes or chemical disinfection for brief period is no longer the standard of care. Endoscopic reprocessors and automated endoscopic washers are the new gold standard disinfection process. When performed with proper aseptic precautions and standard of care disinfection procedures endoscopy is completely sterile procedure.

Who should be performing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures?
Medical or Surgical Gastroenterologists are the qualified doctors who usually perform this procedure. Qualification and experience are the two main assets which enable your doctor to identify and treat your problem in a sound and confident manner.

Why should you get your upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure done at the Harini Hospital?
To begin with, patient evaluation process and decision making are based on international standards and guidelines.
Our centre is the only tertiary care private gastroenterology centre in the state of Andhra Pradesh to have a team of doctors which compromises of both medical (DM gastroenterology) and surgical specialities (Mch Surgical gastroenterology) who reside in-house. Combined experience of the team is greater than any other gastroenterology hospital in our state.
Our experience and expertise are backed by adaptation of technology and bringing the most advanced endoscopic systems in the world available for our people in our state. We perform endoscopic procedures using Fujifilm Lazario endoscopes and Olympus 190 endoscopes with entire armamentarium of Narrow band imaging, blue laser imaging, linked colour imaging included in our basket.
Complete chain of aseptic precautions is taken, and sterility is ensured all through the process. Advanced automated endoscope reprocessors ensure highest form of sterility and guarantee that there is no chance of hospital acquired infection.

4 dedicated endoscopic suites are available where the procedures are continuously performed as per the scheduled time; there are attached waiting rooms for attenders and recovery rooms for the patient where the a
We are proud to say that this top-notch high-end technology is introduced for the first time in our state at Harini hospitals (there are only two other places in our where it is available). Harini hospitals is the only centre in the state of Andhra Pradesh to offer all such services under single roof, thus making quality care with international standards accessible to the people.

Myths and Facts about endoscopy