Endoscopic Surgery is usually performed to identify the causes such as:

• ● To determine the exact cause of abnormal symptoms
• ● To remove a sample tissue (small in size), also known as biopsy, which then sent to a lab for further testing
• ● Helps the healthcare professional to see inside the body while performing procedures such as removal of gallstones, repair stomach ulcer, or tumours

The healthcare professional may request an endoscopy procedure if they observe symptoms of any of the following conditions:

• ● Stomach Ulcer
• ● Pancreatitis
• ● Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• ● Bleeding in the digestive tract (unexplained)
• ● Infections
• ● Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
• ● Unusual vaginal bleeding
• ● Digestive tract issues
• ● Chronic constipation
• ● Gallstones
• ● Tumours
• ● Blockage of oesophagus
• ● Hiatal hernia
• ● Blood through urine

Endoscopic Surgery is performed for the diagnosis of various reasons such as:

• ● Investigate digestive symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, and difficulty in swallowing.
• ● Collect small tissue samples to diagnose bleeding, anaemia, inflammation, cancer, and others.
• ● The healthcare professional can pass special tools through an endoscope to treat problems in the digestive system.
• ● Endoscopy is also combined with other procedures sometimes, such as ultrasound.

Endoscopic Surgeries are usually performed for the treatment of the following health conditions:

• ● Inflammation of the pancreas (Pancreatitis)
• ● Tumour of the pancreas
• ● Tumour of bile ducts
• ● Tumour of gall bladder
• ● Tumour of liver
• ● Blockage of the bile duct
• ● Cysts
• ● Gastric outlet obstruction
• ● And many others

The results of Endoscopic Surgery or procedure would depend on the situation. For instance, if endoscopic surgery is performed to diagnose an ulcer, the results would be known immediately after the procedure. However, on the other hand, if the healthcare professional has collected the tissue sample, i.e. biopsy is performed, the results may take time, and you will have to wait for a few days. Thus, you should ask the healthcare professional that when can you expect the results of your endoscopy.

Endoscopic Surgeries have a lower risk of infection and bleeding compared to open surgeries. However, as it is a medical procedure, it does have a risk of disease, bleeding, and other rare risks such as:

• ● Damage to organs
• ● Chest pain
• ● Fever
• ● Shortness of breath
• ● Difficulty in swallowing
• ● Vomiting
• ● Redness at the incision site
• ● Swelling at the incision site
• ● Persistent pain in the area of endoscopy

The risk associated with the endoscopic procedures would depend on the location of the procedure and the patient’s health condition.

Arthroscopy, bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, cystoscopy, enteroscopy, hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, laryngoscopy, mediastinoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, thoracoscopy, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and ureteroscopy.

There are continuous technological advancements taking place in the field of endoscopy. Some of the examples of technologically advanced endoscopes are as follows:

• ● Capsule endoscopy
• ● Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• ● Chromoendoscopy
• ● Endoscopic ultrasound
• ● Endoscopic mucosal resection
• ● Narrowband imaging

An immediate medical attention is required if you witness any of the following after an Endoscopic Surgery:

• ● Symptoms are worse than before the test performed
• ● Difficulty in swallowing
• ● Vomiting
• ● Dizziness
• ● Blood in your stool
• ● Unable to eat or drink
• ● Urinating less than usual
• ● Sharp pain in the abdomen

Some of the benefits of Endoscopic Surgery are: small incisions, less pain, low risk of infection, short hospital stay, less scarring, quick recovery time, and reduced blood loss.

You are advised to take clear liquids up to six hours before the procedure. Some clear liquids include: water, coffee without cream, apple juice, clear soda, and broth.

Before going for an Endoscopy, you should discuss your medical history and medications with your healthcare professional. It is advised that you must stop your regular medications for blood thinners, blood pressure, diabetes, and others before the endoscopy. Also, you should avoid intake of any solid food for 6-8 hours prior to your endoscopy surgery.

An Endoscopy procedure is not at all painful. The healthcare professional would give anaesthesia intravenously or topically not to let you feel anything during the procedure.

Endoscopic Surgeries are outpatient surgeries. Thus, you are not admitted for getting the surgery done. The recovery would depend on the patient and their health condition. However, it is advised if you witness abnormal pain and visit the healthcare professional as suggested.

The healthcare professional would guide what you should do before the surgery. As your body needs to be ready for the endoscopy, the doctor would let you know what you should eat and what you should not eat. Also, the professionals would tell you about what you should stop eating.

Not all surgeries would require this. There are rare chances that your doctor will have to switch to open surgery. Thus, you should discuss this with your doctor to understand it in detail.