Advancements in Endoscopic Procedures: Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive Disorders
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Date: 06-06-2023
Advancements in Endoscopic Procedures: Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive Disorders
Since the evolution of the flexible fiberoptic endoscope in 1956, endoscopy has turned out to be an intrinsic component of the gastroenterology discipline. Presently, endoscopy is widely used in diagnostics and therapeutics, where it provides minimally invasive treatments for disorders that traditionally demanded surgical intervention. The effective treatment of digestive disorders using minimally invasive surgery and advanced endoscopic procedures has benefited patients with minimal pain and discomfort.
Endoscopic surgery:
Before proceeding with the advancements prevalent in endoscopic procedures, it is vital to understand what endoscopic surgery is. Essentially, endoscopy is a procedure that lets a doctor view and operate on the internal organs of a patient. It helps doctors diagnose diseases in body parts like the stomach and esophagus.
The gastroenterologist undergoes endoscopic surgery using a scope and a flexible tube that is equipped with a lens at one end and a video camera at the other. The end that has the lens is inserted into the patient’s body. Hence, the surgeon can view the interior of the patient’s colon and carry out procedures without making extensive incisions. Hence, it facilitates an easier recovery with less discomfort and pain.
Types of endoscopies:
Various types of endoscopies are useful for investigating several systems in the human body. They investigate areas like the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, urinary tract, female reproductive tract, ears, etc.
The following table familiarizes you with some major types of endoscopy.
# | Endoscopy Type | Organs Diagnosed | The Place of Scope Insertions |
1 | Bronchoscopy | Lungs | Mouth or nose |
2 | Arthroscopy | Joints | Via a tiny incision near the diagnosed joint |
3 | Colonoscopy | Colon | Anus |
4 | Enteroscopy | Small intestine | Mouth or anus |
5 | Cystoscopy | Bladder | Urethra |
6 | Laparoscopy | Pelvic or abdominal area | Via a tiny incision near the diagnosed area |
7 | Hysteroscopy | Interior of uterus | From vagina |
8 | Laryngoscopy | Larynx | Nostril or mouth |
9 | Ureteroscopy | Ureter | Urethra |
10 | Mediastinoscopy | Mediastinum (the area between the lungs) | Incision above the breastbone |
How is a digestive disorder diagnosed?
To diagnose digestive disorders, your healthcare provider will first go through your medical history thoroughly. They write down the symptoms you have experienced and any other relevant information. Furthermore, a physical exam is conducted to comprehensively assess the problem.
Some patients may need to undergo a more comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. In such cases, digestive disorders can be diagnosed with the help of lab tests, imaging tests, endoscopic procedures, and other procedures. Endoscopic procedures use advanced technologies to effectively diagnose and treat digestive disorders. Hence, they are one of the most suitable procedures. It involves various procedures like colonoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), esophagogastroduodenoscopy (also called EGD or upper endoscopy), and sigmoidoscopy. The best hospital in Patna undergoes all these endoscopic procedures to make sure patients benefit from effective endoscopic treatment.
A colonoscopy is used to thoroughly and accurately diagnose problems pertinent to the colon. It is an endoscopy procedure that allows your healthcare provider to observe the whole intestine (colon). Usually, it can determine inflamed tissue, ulcers, abnormal growths, and bleeding.
An EGD (upper endoscopy) procedure allows a healthcare provider to assess the interior of your stomach, esophagus, and duodenum through an endoscope. Moreover, this procedure may involve the insertion of instruments via the scope for the exclusion of a sample of tissue for diagnostic tests (if required).
If you are experiencing conditions like abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, bleeding, and abnormal growth, then sigmoidoscopy is a suitable diagnostic procedure to consider. It lets the healthcare provider diagnose the interior of your large intestine and also diagnose the aforementioned conditions. The best gastroenterologist in Patna uses advanced endoscopy technologies to relieve you of these conditions.
Advancements in Endoscopic Procedures:
ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) is one of the advanced endoscopic procedures that employ X-rays and an endoscope to view the pancreatic ducts, bile, gallbladder, and liver.
Originally developed as a diagnostic procedure, ERCP is currently almost completely therapeutic. It depicts advances in diagnostic radiological imaging with diagnostic endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. Intraluminal diagnostics carried out during ERCP have now been enhanced with cholangioscopy, pancreatoscopy, and adjunctive techniques (such as confocal laser endomicroscopy).
Today, diagnostic EUS has been employed with the latest technologies, including contrast harmonic EUS, elastography, needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy, and serial enhancements in EUS needles and tissue diagnostics.
The contemporary integration of artificial intelligence into hepatology and gastroenterology will revamp the field of digestive diseases in the future. The advancements in endoscopic procedures aim to curtail the time elapsed on documentation and instead spend more time on the treatment.
The advancements in minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery have led to smaller incisions and a faster recovery time. The corresponding minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment use a high-definition camera and fiber optics to precisely project the surgical field on a screen.
Usually, open surgeries require an in-hospital recovery period of 5-10 days. Conversely, advanced minimally invasive endoscopic surgery curtails patients’ pain and expedites their recovery. Availing treatment from the best gastroenterology doctor in Patna benefits you with a quick recovery from the endoscopic surgery.
Final Words:
It seems satisfying when you glance at how far the advances in endoscopy have progressed. Also, it is thrilling to witness the ongoing evolution in this field. Existing and future gastroenterologists will encounter new challenges in endoscopy treatments. Predominantly, these challenges are driven by technological innovations, scientific advancements, demographic changes, and social trends. With the assistance of contemporary technological advancements, including the latest endoscopic technologies and artificial intelligence, gastroenterologists will facilitate patients' improved quality treatments.
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