Endoscopy - Applications

Applications

Health care providers can use endoscopy to review any of the following body parts:

  • The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract):
    • oesophagus, stomach and duodenum (esophagogastroduodenoscopy)
    • small intestine (enteroscopy)
    • large intestine/colon (colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy)
    • Magnification endoscopy
    • bile duct
      • endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), duodenoscope-assisted cholangiopancreatoscopy, intraoperative cholangioscopy
    • rectum (rectoscopy) and anus (anoscopy), both also referred to as (proctoscopy)
  • The respiratory tract
    • The nose (rhinoscopy)
    • The lower respiratory tract (bronchoscopy)
  • The ear (otoscope)
  • The urinary tract (cystoscopy)
  • The female reproductive system (gynoscopy)
    • The cervix (colposcopy)
    • The uterus (hysteroscopy)
    • The fallopian tubes (falloposcopy)
  • Normally closed body cavities (through a small incision):
    • The abdominal or pelvic cavity (laparoscopy)
    • The interior of a joint (arthroscopy)
    • Organs of the chest (thoracoscopy and mediastinoscopy)
  • During pregnancy
    • The amnion (amnioscopy)
    • The fetus (fetoscopy)
  • Plastic Surgery
  • Panendoscopy (or triple endoscopy)
    • Combines laryngoscopy, esophagoscopy, and bronchoscopy
  • Orthopedic surgery
    • Hand Surgery, such as endoscopic carpal tunnel release
    • Epidural space (Epiduroscopy)
    • Bursae (Bursectomy)
  • Endodontic surgery
    • Maxillary sinus surgery
    • Apicoectomy
  • Non-medical uses for endoscopy
    • The planning and architectural community have found the endoscope useful for pre-visualization of scale models of proposed buildings and cities (architectural endoscopy)
    • Internal inspection of complex technical systems (borescope)
    • Endoscopes are also a tool helpful in the examination of improvised explosive devices by bomb disposal personnel.
    • The FBI uses endoscopes for conducting surveillance via tight spaces.

An Endoscopy is a simple procedure which allows a doctor to look inside human bodies using an instrument called an endoscope. A cutting tool can be attached to the end of the endoscope, and the apparatus can then be used to perform surgery. This type of surgery is called Key hole surgery, and usually leaves only a tiny scar externally.

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