Endoscopy What is an endoscope? Simply put, an endoscope is an instrument that allows access to the inside of the body for exploration. It can transmit the internal view of the human body through special equipment to the outside of the human body, through the screen for doctors to observe. In addition to direct observation with the naked eye through the endoscope, doctors can also remove small pieces of tissue from the digestive organs through the endoscope to observe lesions under the microscope. Depending on the part of the body being examined, endoscopes for the gastrointestinal tract include esophagoscopes, gastroscopes, duodenoscopes, small enteroscopes, colonoscopes, sigmoidoscopes, and proctoscopes. Gastroscopy can be performed whenever a patient is suspected of having a disease of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum. During the examination, the gastroscope is passed through the mouth of the patient. If the patient is suspected of having a disease in the colon, colonoscopy can be performed. During the examination, the colonoscope enters the body from the anus of the patient. Related knowledge Endoscopy is not only a diagnostic tool, doctors can also use endoscopy for gastrointestinal treatment such as gastrointestinal hemostasis, polyp and early cancer removal, and bile duct stone removal. What should I do before and after a gastroscopy? Since people who have had certain diseases are not suitable for endoscopy, it is important to tell your doctor in detail about any diseases you have had before undergoing an endoscopy. The day before the endoscopy, you should not smoke, drink alcohol, eat irritating foods such as chili and garlic, and eat an easy-to-digest meal instead of a full dinner. You need to fast on the day of the test, i.e., you should not eat any food or drink any water after waking up early in the morning. Empty your bowels before the examination. During the examination, you should loosen your clothes and belt, and take out your dentures. Do not be nervous during the examination, let the whole body in a relaxed state. When the doctor inserts the gastroscope, the patient should keep taking deep breaths, so that the throat is more relaxed and the gastroscope passes easily. After the examination, you must rest for 1 hour, and you can’t drive or work at heights that day. 2 hours after the end of the examination, you can start to eat a little bit of slightly hot liquid food, such as thin rice, noodle soup. 1~2 days after the examination, there may be slight pain in the throat, usually no special treatment is needed. Important Note Patients who have just had a barium gastrointestinal contrast examination should not undergo gastroscopy within 3 days, because the barium left in the stomach will affect endoscopic observation. Patients who have had their stomach biopsies clamped can eat fluids only 4 hours after the end of the examination, so as to avoid food irritation or damage to the part of the stomach where the tissues have been clamped After the examination, it is necessary to pay attention to the color of the stools, and if any symptom such as blood in the stools, black stools, or abdominal pain occurs, you should go to the hospital immediately to ask for doctor’s help. Who is not suitable for gastroscopy? Not everyone is suitable for gastroscopy. The following people are not suitable for gastroscopy. People who are unwilling or unable to cooperate, such as mentally ill and mentally retarded people. People with physical factors that interfere with access to the gastroscope, such as patients with severe deformities of the spine. People with acute inflammation of the pharynx, such as those with acute pharyngitis and purulent tonsillitis. Patients who are having an attack of bronchial asthma. People with severe cardiovascular, pulmonary and cerebral diseases, such as patients with angina pectoris and heart failure. Patients who are suspected of having gastric perforation. What should I do before and after the colonoscopy? Because people with certain diseases are not suitable for endoscopy, it is important to tell your doctor in detail about any diseases you have had before undergoing the test. You should eat food with little crumbs 3 days before the colonoscopy; you can eat only liquid food 1 day before; and you should not eat on the morning of the test. 4 hours before the examination to take the laxative prescribed by the doctor, in order to be able to empty the stool, to avoid fecal interference with the examination. However, be sure not to take laxatives on your own. You can put your abdomen in a relaxed state by breathing slowly and deeply during the examination. For patients who have had the intestinal mucosal tissue clamped under colonoscopy, it is important to keep an eye out for blood in the stool and abdominal pain after the examination. Who is not suitable for colonoscopy? Patients with anal or rectal stenosis. Patients with very severe ulcerative colitis. Pregnant women. Is Gastrointestinal Endoscopy painful? The endoscopic tube is less than 1 centimeter in diameter and is flexible enough to enter the stomach and intestines without causing pain to the patient. The patient will be more or less uncomfortable during the endoscopy, such as a small bout of nausea due to irritation when the gastroscope mouth passes through the pharynx, but the nausea will be significantly alleviated as soon as the mirror body enters the esophagus. And do gastroscopy before the doctor will give the patient pharynx spray some anesthetic; do colonoscopy before the doctor will give the patient the use of intestinal relaxation drugs, these can reduce the patient’s pain.