Endoscopy

An endoscopy can come in different forms, yet the common link between each type is the ability to evaluate your insides in real time without the need for an incision. The following types of endoscopies use some form of an imaging tool to evaluate your organs:

• Capsule endoscopy
• Colonoscopy 
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Esophageal manometry
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
• Upper GI endoscopy

Capsule endoscopy

A capsule endoscopy is a procedure we use to better understand the insides of your digestive system. It involves 2 main parts:

• A tiny, vitamin-sized camera called a PillCam
• A sensor belt and data recorder worn around the abdomen

The test works by swallowing a PillCam that snaps photos of your insides as it moves through your intestines. The sensor belt transmits these images for your doctor to view in real-time.

The PillCam will leave your body in a natural bowel movement.

Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is an exam where a doctor inserts a flexible endoscope into the large intestine to look for warning signs for colon cancer and other diseases, like:

• Areas of inflammation or bleeding
• Colon polyps
• Tumors
• Ulcers

A colonoscopy is the most effective way to prevent colon cancer because if we find a polyp during the procedure, we can remove it on the spot. 

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

An ERCP helps us examine your bile and pancreatic ducts for tumors, leaks and other abnormalities. It combines using an endoscope and X-rays to get a clear picture of your insides. Here's what to expect during the exam:

• The endoscope is used to position a catheter in the first portion of the small intestine, called the duodenum.
• Your doctor can now clearly see the inside of your body on an accompanying screen.
• The catheter injects dye into the ducts to help illuminate the insides clearly on X-rays.
• Your doctor will take a series of X-rays.

This test is performed under sedation, and most people fall asleep and are not aware of the procedure. Because you'll still feel groggy coming out of sedation, you'll need someone who's 18 or older to take you home. Your doctor may recommend staying overnight in the hospital.

Esophageal manometry

A condition that limits one's ability to swallow can have a major impact on one's quality of life. Esophageal manometry can help.

During this procedure, an endoscope lined with sensors passes through your nose, down your esophagus, and into your stomach. The sensors measure the pressure and pattern of muscle contractions in your esophagus. This helps us understand the root cause of symptoms such as pain, heartburn or swallowing difficulty.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)

An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is similar to the ultrasound that a doctor would use to look at a fetus in a pregnant person's womb. Both procedures use the power of sound waves to create images.

By getting up close to the organs we need to examine, an EUS can produce more detailed images than traditional imaging tests. That clarity allows us to:

• Understand how far a gastrointestinal cancer has progressed (staging)
• Examine pancreatitis and other pancreas disorders
• Study the muscles of the lower rectum to see why you may be experiencing bowel incontinence
• Look at bumps along the intestinal wall

The procedure typically lasts 30–90 minutes, and people can usually go home on the same day.

Upper GI endoscopy

An upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy allows us to get a close look at the 3 main parts of your upper GI tract:

• Esophagus 
• Stomach
• Duodenum (first part of the small intestine)

The light and camera on the endoscope (about the width of a paperclip) allow us to examine your body in real-time. To help you feel more comfortable, we may offer medication before the exam that allows you to doze off into a light sleep. Because of this, you'll need someone 18 years or older to get you home safely on the day of your exam.