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Medical Office Building
1302 Franklin Avenue
Suite 1000
Normal, Illinois 61761
Phone: (309) 268-3400
Hours
Monday - Friday
7:00am - 4:00pm |
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Gastrointestinal Tract |
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Direct visualization of the digestive tract with lighted instruments is referred to as gastrointestinal endoscopy. Your physician has advised you of your need to have this type of examination. The following information is presented to help you understand the reasons for, & possible risks of these procedures. At the time of your examination, the inside lining of the digestive tract will be inspected & possibly photographed. If an abnormality is seen or suspected, a small portion of tissue (biopsy) may be removed for microscopic study, or the lining may be brushed and washed with a solution that can be sent for analysis of abnormal cells (cytology). Small growths can frequently be completely removed (polypectomy), using a wire loop & electrical current. Occasionally during the examination a narrowed portion (stricture) will be stretched to a more normal size (dilatation). Some cancers may be missed by endoscopy. Some cancers can develop and progress in a short period of time.
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The following are the common risks of these procedures:
- Injury to the lining of the digestive tract by the instrument which may result in perforation (tear) in the wall and leakage into the body cavities; if this occurs, surgical operation to close the leak and drain the region is often necessary.
- Bleeding, if it occurs, usually is a complication of biopsy, polypectomy, or dilatation. Management of this complication may consist only of careful observation or may require blood transfusion or possibly a surgical operation for control.
Other risks include possible drug reactions, complication due to other diseases you may have, or vein irritation caused by medication given into your vein during endoscopy procedure. This vein irritation may cause temporary soreness, numbness, or small bumps due to scar tissue in that arm. You should inform your physician of all your allergies and medical problems. |
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ALL OF THESE COMPLICATIONS ARE POSSIBLE BUT OCCUR WITH A VERY LOW FREQUENCY. |
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- ESOPHAGOGASTRODUODENOSCOPY (EGD): Also called an Upper Endoscopy is a procedure that allows the physician to look at the inside of the esophagus, stomach, and the duodenum (the site of most ulcers in the small intestine). It involves swallowing a thin, flexible, lighted tube called an endoscope. The endoscope allows the physician to view the inside of this area of the body, as well as to insert instruments through the scope. Biopsy, cytology, specimen collection, polypectomy and dilatation of strictures may be necessary.
- UPPER ENDOSCOPIC VARICEAL LIGATION: Elastic bands are applied to esophageal or gastric varices to control bleeding.
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- FLEXIBLE SIGMOIDOSCOPY: Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that allows the physician to look at the inside of the lower portion of the large intestine. It is helpful in identifying the causes of diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, abnormal growths, and bleeding. A short, flexible, lighted tube called a sigmoidoscope is inserted into the intestine through the rectum.
- COLONOSCOPY: Colonoscopy is a procedure that allows the physician to view the entire length of the large intestine, and can often help identify abnormal growths, inflamed tissue, ulcers, and bleeding. It involves inserting a colonoscope, a flexible lighted tube, in through the rectum up into the colon. The colonoscope allows the physician to see the lining of the colon, as well as treat some problems that are discovered and remove tissue for further examination.
- LOWER ENDOSCOPIC VARICEAL LIGATION: Elastic bands are applied to hemorrhoids to control bleeding.
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- LIVER BIOPSY: The liver biopsy is usually performed on an outpatient basis. A mild sedative may be given to the patient prior to the procedure. Sometimes an ultrasound or echo machine is used to identify the best location to make the biopsy. The patient lies quietly on their back or slightly to the left side. The area where the biopsy will be done is carefully cleaned. Then a local anesthetic agent is used to numb the skin and tissue below. A specifically designed thin needle is inserted through the skin. At this point, the physician will tell the patient how to breathe. The needle is advanced into and out of the liver. This takes only 1 or 2 seconds. A slender core of tissue is removed with the needle and is then processed through the laboratory. The entire procedure from start to finish lasts only 15 to 20 minutes.
- SCHLEROTHERAPY: The injection of medication into varicose veins of the esophagus and/or stomach, that causes them to shrink or stop bleeding.
- PARACENTESIS: Paracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid that has accumulated in the abdominal cavity (peritoneal fluid), a condition called ascites. Ascites may be caused by infection, inflammation, abdominal injury, or other conditions, such as cirrhosis or cancer. The fluid is removed using a needle inserted through the abdominal wall and sent to a lab for analysis to determine the cause of the fluid buildup. Paracentesis also may be done to drain the fluid as a comfort measure in people with cancer or chronic cirrhosis. This is not an endoscopic examination.
- P.E.G. (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy) TUBE: This is a tube inserted through the abdominal wall that rests in the stomach and is used to give nutrients to patients who cannot swallow and/or who have the inability to consume enough food or liquids by mouth.
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The information provided on this website is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with a doctor and a particular treatment plan. The material provided and any e-mail generated by this website may not be secure and is not intended to create, nor does the receipt of it constitute, a doctor-patient relationship. |
