What is Cholangioscopy (SpyGlass Cholangioscopy) ?  
Cholangioscopy refers to a procedure by which your doctor visualises inside of your bile ducts using a light-weighted, very thin, flexible instrument known as an cholangioscope. SpyGlass Cholangioscopy is one of the most recent advances in the field of medicine which helps in dealing with complex biliary problems. It may help to avoid complex surgical procedures and offer solution in more simpler manner. It is used to diagnose and treat various conditions of liver, bile-duct and pancreas. 

 What are conditions in which Cholangioscopy is used? 
It is used of diagnosing various entities like
1.Bile duct specific infections
2.Haemobilia ( bleeding into the bile ducts )
3.Cancer of bile ducts and pancreatic ducts
4.Exact localisation of tumour in the bile-duct or pancreatic duct
5.Suspicious or indeterminate strictures of bile-duct
6.Post liver transplant biliary strictures evaluation
7.Chronic pancreatitis
It is used in the treatment of some of the above mention conditions and also the other conditions like  
1.Extraction/dissolution of stones in the bile-ducts which cannot be reached or removed by ERCP
2.Extraction of pancreatic ductal stones
3.Treatment of certain cancers within the bile and pancreatic ducts

How is the procedure of cholangioscopy done?
 It is typically done in an elective setting on an outpatient basis after a period of overnight fasting. It is usually done 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 in prone position. Various accessories are introduced depending upon your disease condition and status. 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.  

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. Your doctor should have sufficient expertise in the field of advanced therapeutic endoscopy.  

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 specialties (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. Harini hospitals is the first centre in the new state of Andhra Pradesh to bring this most advanced treatment facility available to the people and is the only centre in our state to provide this advanced treatment modality. 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.  

Myths and Facts about endoscopy