GI Procedures
One of the more common GI procedures is an endoscopy. An endoscopy is a procedure that is used to find problems within the colon that can lead to serious GI conditions. An endoscopy can detect things such as polyps in the colon and the doctor can easily remove these things before they become serious. This procedure is typically recommended to be done every few years on people over the age of 50. If you have any questions about the endoscopy procedure you can contact a GI doctor in Queens or keep reading below for more info on the procedure.
An Endoscopy procedure is performed with an endoscopy, an Endoscope is a tool that has a small tube and a camera connected to it. The tube part is what goes into the orifice and the headlight guides the camera down. This is used by Gastroenterologists to see the insides of your GI tract that might not otherwise be able to be seen. Oftentimes when you are getting a GI procedure it’s because you may be having internal issues or abnormal formalities that cause things like polyps (colon) or vomiting and acid secretions (upper GI). These GI procedures and the endoscope can also help the doctor take biopsies of the area, remove polyps and more. When getting most any type of a GI procedure done you will be given a sedative and or pain medications to keep you comfortable during your examination. These procedures tend to be very quick and steadfast so they don’t usually call for staying overnight - instead they can be done in a few hours’ time and you will be able to go home. However, because of the sedatives, you may be asked to be driven home. Some patients that get a GI procedure get so knocked out from the procedure that they don’t even remember it happening! When it comes to endoscopy and GI procedures, there are quite a few your doctor may suggest to you, here below are some of the most common procedures so that you can familiarize yourself with them, how they work and what may happen during the procedure.
Colonoscopy
When most people know they have to get a colonoscopy they cringe at the idea. But, this is or can be a very beneficial GI procedure because it can cue your doctor into some very problematic issues such as ulcers, polyps, even cancer. If you are asked to get a colonoscopy by your doctor, they will most likely ask that you don’t drink or eat anything for a few days prior to the test, unless its clear liquids and foods such as ginger ale, plain tea, clear gelatin etc. This is mainly to ensure that A) nothing fibrous or bulky is in the colon at the time of the test and B) to have any false positives going on i.e.; foods that may test abnormally to the sedative or even something simple obstructing the view of the endoscopy. The patient will most likely be asked to have an enema or other bowel prep in order to empty out the colon altogether. On the day of the test the patient will be given a sedative and their heart and blood pressure will be monitored for things like heart rhythm. Pain medication can also be given. If any abnormalities are seen a biopsy will be done and tested if need be.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
This works quite the same way in the same manner that a colonoscopy works, however, instead of testing the large intestine or colon, in a Sigmoidoscopy the sigmoid colon will be tested. Again, a biopsy may be called for, and things like polyps can be removed while you are under sedation.
Upper GI Endoscopy
In this specific test the patient will be asked to not drink or eat anything (even if it’s clear) for anywhere from 8 to 12 hours of the exam. This is a test that will be done to find out issues wrong with the stomach, stomach acid, esophagus, throat and more. People that are asked to get these tend to have issues such as GERD or Barrett's Esophagus. As with the other two exams above, you will be placed on a sedative medication and your vital signs and heart rhythm will also be closely watched. Instead of going through the rectum as with the other two procedures above, the Upper GI calls for the tube to be inserted into the mouth, down the throat, and into the esophagus; stomach, duodenum and the small intestine. Certain abnormalities such as ulcers, cancer, bleeding, inflammation, polyps and other issues such as problems with the gastro esophageal flap - this is a flap that is at the end of your esophagus, and it essentially opens up when food goes down your esophagus and closes back up to keep the acids and juices in your stomach. People with "broken" flaps tend to be people that have issues with NERD, GERD, LES or other acidic issues.
Liver Biopsy
This type of procedure is done a little differently and can be a little more complicated. Instead of placing a camera or an endoscopy down into your body, the doctor will be removing a small piece of liver from your body and testing that, outside of the body, rather than inside. This is a diagnostic test and it will usually be done to see if the liver has any liver disorders such as cancer or hepatitis. Things like blood thinning medications, including aspirin, should be stopped by the patient a week or so before the liver biopsy. The doctor will also do a blood clotting and blood test before the liver biopsy is done to make sure that blood clot times are correct. On the day of the test the patient will receive sedation medications and pain medication. Next, an anesthesia will be injected into the right side of the body, where the biopsy will be performed. Then, a doctor will use an ultrasound to guide a needle to the liver and take a small piece of it for tissue samples. When the procedure is over, the patient will need to lie in bed for a few hours until all bleeding has stopped.
An Endoscopy procedure is performed with an endoscopy, an Endoscope is a tool that has a small tube and a camera connected to it. The tube part is what goes into the orifice and the headlight guides the camera down. This is used by Gastroenterologists to see the insides of your GI tract that might not otherwise be able to be seen. Oftentimes when you are getting a GI procedure it’s because you may be having internal issues or abnormal formalities that cause things like polyps (colon) or vomiting and acid secretions (upper GI). These GI procedures and the endoscope can also help the doctor take biopsies of the area, remove polyps and more. When getting most any type of a GI procedure done you will be given a sedative and or pain medications to keep you comfortable during your examination. These procedures tend to be very quick and steadfast so they don’t usually call for staying overnight - instead they can be done in a few hours’ time and you will be able to go home. However, because of the sedatives, you may be asked to be driven home. Some patients that get a GI procedure get so knocked out from the procedure that they don’t even remember it happening! When it comes to endoscopy and GI procedures, there are quite a few your doctor may suggest to you, here below are some of the most common procedures so that you can familiarize yourself with them, how they work and what may happen during the procedure.
Colonoscopy
When most people know they have to get a colonoscopy they cringe at the idea. But, this is or can be a very beneficial GI procedure because it can cue your doctor into some very problematic issues such as ulcers, polyps, even cancer. If you are asked to get a colonoscopy by your doctor, they will most likely ask that you don’t drink or eat anything for a few days prior to the test, unless its clear liquids and foods such as ginger ale, plain tea, clear gelatin etc. This is mainly to ensure that A) nothing fibrous or bulky is in the colon at the time of the test and B) to have any false positives going on i.e.; foods that may test abnormally to the sedative or even something simple obstructing the view of the endoscopy. The patient will most likely be asked to have an enema or other bowel prep in order to empty out the colon altogether. On the day of the test the patient will be given a sedative and their heart and blood pressure will be monitored for things like heart rhythm. Pain medication can also be given. If any abnormalities are seen a biopsy will be done and tested if need be.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
This works quite the same way in the same manner that a colonoscopy works, however, instead of testing the large intestine or colon, in a Sigmoidoscopy the sigmoid colon will be tested. Again, a biopsy may be called for, and things like polyps can be removed while you are under sedation.
Upper GI Endoscopy
In this specific test the patient will be asked to not drink or eat anything (even if it’s clear) for anywhere from 8 to 12 hours of the exam. This is a test that will be done to find out issues wrong with the stomach, stomach acid, esophagus, throat and more. People that are asked to get these tend to have issues such as GERD or Barrett's Esophagus. As with the other two exams above, you will be placed on a sedative medication and your vital signs and heart rhythm will also be closely watched. Instead of going through the rectum as with the other two procedures above, the Upper GI calls for the tube to be inserted into the mouth, down the throat, and into the esophagus; stomach, duodenum and the small intestine. Certain abnormalities such as ulcers, cancer, bleeding, inflammation, polyps and other issues such as problems with the gastro esophageal flap - this is a flap that is at the end of your esophagus, and it essentially opens up when food goes down your esophagus and closes back up to keep the acids and juices in your stomach. People with "broken" flaps tend to be people that have issues with NERD, GERD, LES or other acidic issues.
Liver Biopsy
This type of procedure is done a little differently and can be a little more complicated. Instead of placing a camera or an endoscopy down into your body, the doctor will be removing a small piece of liver from your body and testing that, outside of the body, rather than inside. This is a diagnostic test and it will usually be done to see if the liver has any liver disorders such as cancer or hepatitis. Things like blood thinning medications, including aspirin, should be stopped by the patient a week or so before the liver biopsy. The doctor will also do a blood clotting and blood test before the liver biopsy is done to make sure that blood clot times are correct. On the day of the test the patient will receive sedation medications and pain medication. Next, an anesthesia will be injected into the right side of the body, where the biopsy will be performed. Then, a doctor will use an ultrasound to guide a needle to the liver and take a small piece of it for tissue samples. When the procedure is over, the patient will need to lie in bed for a few hours until all bleeding has stopped.