Is an endoscopy painful?
The procedure can be mildly uncomfortable, but not usually painful. Most people experience mild discomfort, the procedure is usually done while you're awake.
What is the recovery process?
You can expect to go home a couple of hours after your procedure. If you have had a sedative, you may feel drowsy for a while afterwards after endoscopy therefore will need someone to drive you home and stay with you overnight until its effects have worn off.
What are the risks of an endoscopy?
The overall risks of serious complications of an endoscopy is very low, the procedure is usually very safe.
There are many different types of endoscopy treatments, dependent on the purpose of the procedure
Upper GI Endoscopy
An upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is a procedure to look at the inside of the oesophagus (gullet), stomach and duodenum using a flexible telescope allowing your doctor to diagnose and sometimes treat conditions that affect your oesophagus, stomach and beginning of your small intestine.
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Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a procedure that uses a flexible telescope to look at the inside of the large bowel (colon) for changes or abnormalities such as colon polyps and bowel cancer.
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ERCP
An ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatogram) is a procedure that can help to diagnose and/or treat conditions affecting your liver, pancreatic and bile ducts, pancreas or gallbladder. X-rays are taken using a flexible tube with a camera and light at the end called an endoscope.
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Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a procedure to look at the inside of the left, lower part of the colon (large bowel) using a flexible telescope inserted into your back passage. It is used to confirm whether there are any abnormalities present and also as a general screening tool for colon cancer.
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Bronchoscopy
A bronchoscopy is a procedure to look inside and help diagnose a problem in your airways and lungs, it can also treat some lung problems at the same time. A bronchoscope, that is a flexible telescope is inserted through your nose or mouth to take photos/videos of your airways or lungs.
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Transbronchial Biopsy
A transbronchial biopsy involves inserting a flexible telescope, called a bronchoscope, through your nose to collect several pieces of lung tissue. These are analysed to find the cause of your breathing difficulties and lung problem.
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PEG Feeding
A percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a procedure to place a feeding tube through your skin and into your stomach to give you the nutrients and fluids you need
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Capsule Endoscopy
A capsule endoscopy is a procedure used to record images of your tiny bowel with a tiny disposable camera swallowed by the patient.
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