How safe is an endoscopy?

Doctor's Answers 2

Photo of Dr Wai Leong Quan
Dr Wai Leong Quan

Gastroenterologist

Hi Si Yi,

Endoscopy is minimally invasive. The risk of endoscopy is much lower than most surgery and most, if not all procedures, are carried out under some form of sedation or anaesthesia.

This means that patients would sleep through the entire procedure and therefore not be aware or have no recollection of the procedure upon completion.

The risk of endoscopy varies according to the type of procedure. A straightforward upper digestive endoscopy, for instance, can be completed in 15 minutes and carries very low risk of 1 in 10 thousand while colonoscopy carries a risk of 1 in a thousand.

The possible complications range from mild pain to bleeding and perforation. Based on our experience, serious complications rarely happen with routine upper and lower endoscopy.

Do note that there are more advanced and sophisticated endoscopic procedures which carry a higher risk of serious complications. These procedures are usually carried out by endoscopists who have undergone special training in interventional endoscopy.

Procedures such as ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde CholangioPancreatography), for example, carry a risk of pancreatitis which can potentially be life threatening. Stent placement within the digestive tract may result in bleeding and perforation if not done optimally.

There are many other endoscopic procedures with their corresponding risks and complications which you should discuss with your endoscopist in detail before agreeing to undergo the procedure.

Photo of Dr Wai Leong Quan
Dr Wai Leong Quan

Gastroenterologist

Hi Si Yi,

Endoscopy is minimally invasive. The risk of endoscopy is much lower than most surgery and most, if not all procedures, are carried out under some form of sedation or anaesthesia.

This means that patients would sleep through the entire procedure and therefore not be aware or have no recollection of the procedure upon completion.

The risk of endoscopy varies according to the type of procedure. A straightforward upper digestive endoscopy, for instance, can be completed in 15 minutes and carries very low risk of 1 in 10 thousand while colonoscopy carries a risk of 1 in a thousand.

The possible complications range from mild pain to bleeding and perforation. Based on our experience, serious complications rarely happen with routine upper and lower endoscopy.

Do note that there are more advanced and sophisticated endoscopic procedures which carry a higher risk of serious complications. These procedures are usually carried out by endoscopists who have undergone special training in interventional endoscopy.

Procedures such as ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde CholangioPancreatography), for example, carry a risk of pancreatitis which can potentially be life threatening. Stent placement within the digestive tract may result in bleeding and perforation if not done optimally.

There are many other endoscopic procedures with their corresponding risks and complications which you should discuss with your endoscopist in detail before agreeing to undergo the procedure.

Similar Questions

When is an endoscopy required?

Besides clinching diagnoses such as gastric ulcers, colonic polyps, or cancers, modern endoscopes can certainly be used to treat many different digestive conditions. Gastric Ulcer Small Intestine Polyp Bleeding gastric varices By removing a growth known as polyp in the large intestine through the process of Colonoscopy and Polypectomy, colon cancer death rates has been shown to be reduced by more than 50%. In cases with active bleeding from the digestive tract, endoscopy is now the first line treatment to arrest the bleeding.

Photo of Dr Wai Leong Quan

Answered By

Dr Wai Leong Quan

Gastroenterologist

When is an endoscopy determined to be absolutely necessary?

Endoscopy is recommended only if there is a strong reason to do so. The type and urgency of an endoscopic procedure depends on the nature and severity of your medical condition, which may be reflected in your presenting symptoms, medical history, family history or abnormal blood tests or scans. Common indications for endoscopy include persistent abdominal pain, suspected blood in your stools, raised serum tumour markers, personal or family history of colonic polyps and so on. Other indications include cancer screening and abnormal scan findings discovered incidentally, and the list goes on.

Photo of Dr Wai Leong Quan

Answered By

Dr Wai Leong Quan

Gastroenterologist

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