What does endoscopy mean, and its types?
A non-surgical medical procedure, endoscopy, helps a doctor to examine a patient’s digestive tract. Endoscopy involves using a flexible instrument called an endoscope with a light and camera attached to it. The endoscope is placed through the natural opening like the mouth to access the esophagus, stomach, and small bowel. The doctor performs the medical procedure under sedation that helps a patient to get comfortable. The procedure helps take tissue samples (biopsies) treatment for bleeding, blockages (stenting), or removing polyps or early cancer. Endoscopy is usually performed to examine symptoms, including difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, vomiting, or persistent heartburn. A doctor uses various types of endoscopies to examine different body parts.
Based on body part operated by endoscopy, it can be categorized into the following types -
- Arthroscopy: The doctor uses an arthroscopy procedure when joints are affected. In this procedure, the scope is inserted through a small cut close to the joint.
- Bronchoscopy: The procedure is performed to examine infection or disorder in the lungs. The doctor inserts an endoscopic tube through an opening like the mouth or nose.
- Colonoscopy: Colonoscopy involves using the instrument to examine a patient’s colon or tail bone by making inserting through the anal cavity.
- Cystoscopy: The doctor performs a cystoscopy to evaluate the damage to the bladder. The scope is inserted through the urethra in cystoscopy.
- Enteroscopy: The procedure helps find out disorder or issues with the small intestine. The doctor inserts the scope through either the mouth or the anus.
- Hysteroscopy: This procedure is used to check the inside of the woman’s uterus, and the endoscope is inserted through the vagina.
- Laparoscopy: The procedure involves scanning patients’ abdominal or pelvic area by making a small incision to the site.
- Laryngoscopy: A doctor performs laryngoscopy to examine the larynx by inserting an endoscope through the nose or mouth.
- Mediastinoscopy: Mediastinun is an area between the lungs, and the procedure helps to examine that area. The doctor makes a small incision above the breastbone to insert the instrument.
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is performed when the patient experiences any esophagus and upper intestinal tract issues. The doctor inserts the scope through the mouth to execute the procedure.
- Ureteroscopy: The doctor performs the procedure to check the ureter in men. The instrument will be inserted through the urethra.
When does a patient require an endoscopy?
A doctor may recommend an endoscopy procedure to identify or examine symptoms in a patient and also treat the illness. An endoscopy procedure helps a doctor investigate the cause of digestive signs and symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Below are the few purposes that a doctor may perform an endoscopy on a patient -
- Investigation - If a patient is experiencing vomiting, stomach torment, breathing problems, stomach ulcers, difficulty swallowing, gastrointestinal bleeding, etc., an investigation needs to be done. The reason is known after X-rays when a doctor may perform an endoscopy looking for the exact cause.
- Confirmation for a diagnosis - A biopsy procedure helps to confirm a diagnosis of cancer or other diseases. Sometimes the doctor uses an endoscopy procedure to perform a biopsy.
- Treatment - The doctor uses an endoscope to directly treat the digestive system’s illness, such as burning a bleeding vessel to stop bleeding, widening a narrow esophagus, clipping off a polyp, or removing a foreign object. The endoscopy procedure can be combined with another procedure to help diagnose or treat patients for several diseases. As an ultrasound scan, it is mostly used to place the ultrasound probe close to organs that can be difficult to locate. Advanced age endoscopes are equipped with sensitive lights that use narrow-band imaging. A doctor can find precancerous conditions more easily with the help of this type of imaging. During the endoscopy, the doctor gives general anesthesia to make the patient comfortable and sedated so that the patient wouldn’t feel any pain. The procedure involves inserting a tube through the natural opening like a mouth, where a doctor uses a mouth guard to protect the teeth and lips.
What is the Endoscopy cost in India?
Endoscopy is a non-surgical procedure involving minimal incision that makes it safe and preferred to diagnose and treat the illness. A Gastroenterology specialist In India performs endoscopy. You can check the list of the best gastroenterologists in India through Credihealth. Typically, the Endoscopy price in India may vary in a few aspects like admission fee, gastroenterologist expert fee, endoscopy procedure, the purpose of endoscopy, tests that involve the patient’s health condition. When a doctor doesn’t use an endoscopy procedure like surgery or biopsy, the cost is usually low, while their insertion flares up or shoots the price. Various hospitals in India offer cost-effective endoscopy along with post-procedure quality care for the patient. Endoscopy cost In India will vary from INR 1000 to INR 10,000. The patient also needs to check insurance cover-up, costs, and consent before the procedure or appointment with a particular doctor or hospital.