ENDOSCOPE
ENDOSCOPY
Endoscopy means looking inside and typically refers to looking inside the human body for medical reasons using an instrument called an endoscope. Endoscopy can also refer to using a borescope in engineering and technical situations where direct line-of-sight observation is not feasible.

DETAILS
1.)Endoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic medical procedure used to assess the interior surfaces of an organ by inserting a tube into the body. The instrument may have a rigid or flexible tube and not only provide an image for visual inspection and photography, but also enable taking biopsies and retrieval of foreign objects. Endoscopy is the vehicle for minimally invasive surgery.

2.)Many endoscopic procedures are considered to be relatively painless and, at worst, associated with mild discomfort. Most patients tolerate the procedure with only topical anaesthesia of the oropharynx using lignocaine spray.Complications are rare (only 5% of all operations)but can include perforation of the organ under inspection with the endoscope or biopsy instrument. If that occurs open surgery may be required to repair the injury.


Components
An endoscope can consist of

1.) a rigid or flexible tube
2.) a light delivery system to illuminate the organ or object under inspection. The light source is normally outside the body and the light is typically directed via an optical fiber system
3.) a lens system transmitting the image to the viewer from the fiberscope
an additional channel to allow entry of medical instruments or manipulators

Uses
Endoscopy can involve

1.) The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract):
esophagus, stomach and duodenum (esophagogastroduodenoscopy)
2.) Small intestine
colon (colonoscopy,proctosigmoidoscopy)
3.) Bile duct
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), duodenoscope-assisted cholangiopancreatoscopy, intraoperative cholangioscopy
4.) The respiratory tract
The nose (rhinoscopy)
The lower respiratory tract (bronchoscopy)
5.) The urinary tract (cystoscopy)
6.) The female reproductive system
The cervix (colposcopy)
The uterus (hysteroscopy)
The Fallopian tubes (Falloscopy)
7.) Normally closed body cavities (through a small incision):
The abdominal or pelvic cavity (laparoscopy)
The interior of a joint (arthroscopy)
8.) Organs of the chest (thoracoscopy and mediastinoscopy)
9.) During pregnancy
The amnion (amnioscopy)
The fetus (fetoscopy)
10.)Plastic Surgery
11.)Panendoscopy (or triple endoscopy)
Combines laryngoscopy, esophagoscopy, and bronchoscopy
12.)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 personel
FBI uses endoscopes to shove under doors to spy on people.

Risks
1.)Infection
2.)Punctured organs
3.)Allergic reactions due to Contrast agents or dyes (such as those used in a CT scan)
4.)Over-sedation

After The Endoscopy
After the procedure the patient will be observed and monitored by a qualified individual in the endoscopy or a recovery area until a significant portion of the medication has worn off. Occasionally a patient is left with a mild sore throat, which promptly responds to saline gargles, or a feeling of distention from the insufflated air that was used during the procedure. Both problems are mild and fleeting. When fully recovered, the patient will be instructed when to resume his/her usual diet (probably within a few hours) and will be allowed to be taken home. Because of the use of sedation, most facilities mandate that the patient is taken home by another person and not to drive on his/her own or handle machinery for the remainder of the day.


Recent developments
With the application of robotic systems, telesurgery was introduced as the surgeon could operate from a site physically removed from the patient. The first transatlantic surgery has been called the Lindbergh Operation.