When is an endoscopy required?

Doctor's Answers 2

Photo of Dr Wai Leong Quan
Dr Wai Leong Quan

Gastroenterologist

Besides clinching diagnoses such as gastric ulcers, colonic polyps, or cancers, modern endoscopes can certainly be used to treat many different digestive conditions.

endoscopy singapore endoscopy singapore endoscopy singapore

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. Gallstones which have migrated into the bile duct can now be removed by a special endoscope through a process called ERCP. (Find out more about ERCP here)

Chronic pain from inflammation of the pancreas can be managed through a nerve block via Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided injection. These are just some examples of what modern endoscopes can achieve.

In patients with early gastric cancer, endoscopic resection may be a possible option without open surgery. On the other hand, advanced obstruction of the oesophagus due to cancer may be overcome by special feeding tubes or stents inserted through endoscopy.

In recent years, more sophisticated endoscopic methods have been developed to tackle difficult stones in the bile duct through the use of lasers.

So you can see, endoscopy is very much a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic tool for many digestive conditions. Do speak with your gastroenterologist to find out more if you or your loved ones have conditions involving the digestive system which endoscopy may help.

Photo of Dr Wai Leong Quan
Dr Wai Leong Quan

Gastroenterologist

Besides clinching diagnoses such as gastric ulcers, colonic polyps, or cancers, modern endoscopes can certainly be used to treat many different digestive conditions.

endoscopy singapore endoscopy singapore endoscopy singapore

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. Gallstones which have migrated into the bile duct can now be removed by a special endoscope through a process called ERCP. (Find out more about ERCP here)

Chronic pain from inflammation of the pancreas can be managed through a nerve block via Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided injection. These are just some examples of what modern endoscopes can achieve.

In patients with early gastric cancer, endoscopic resection may be a possible option without open surgery. On the other hand, advanced obstruction of the oesophagus due to cancer may be overcome by special feeding tubes or stents inserted through endoscopy.

In recent years, more sophisticated endoscopic methods have been developed to tackle difficult stones in the bile duct through the use of lasers.

So you can see, endoscopy is very much a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic tool for many digestive conditions. Do speak with your gastroenterologist to find out more if you or your loved ones have conditions involving the digestive system which endoscopy may help.

Similar Questions

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

How safe is an endoscopy?

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.

Photo of Dr Wai Leong Quan

Answered By

Dr Wai Leong Quan

Gastroenterologist

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