Endoscopy is a medical procedure that allows a doctor to view the inside of a persons body using an instrument called an endoscope, which is a long, thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera attached to it. The procedure is used to diagnose diseases and conditions in various parts of the body, including the esophagus, stomach, colon, ears, and nose. There are many types of endoscopy procedures, but the most common one is an upper endoscopy, also called an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. During an upper endoscopy, a specialist in diseases of the digestive system (gastroenterologist) uses an endoscope to visually examine the upper digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach, and the beginning of the small intestine, called the duodenum.

An endoscopy offers an opportunity to collect tissue samples (biopsy) to test for diseases and conditions that may be causing anemia, bleeding, inflammation, or diarrhea. It can also detect some cancers of the upper digestive system. Special tools can be passed through the endoscope to treat problems in the digestive system, such as burning a bleeding vessel to stop bleeding, widening a narrow esophagus, clipping off a polyp, or removing a foreign object.

The procedure is typically an outpatient procedure, meaning the patient can go home the same day. The patient receives an intravenous sedative or another form of anesthesia to make the procedure more comfortable. During the procedure, the patient lies on their left side, and the doctor administers a numbing spray to their throat and inserts a mouthguard to protect their teeth. The doctor then guides the endoscope through the patients mouth and down into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, while viewing images from the endoscope on a video monitor and looking for problems or performing treatments.

In summary, endoscopy is a procedure that allows doctors to visually examine various parts of the body using an endoscope, which is a long, thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera attached to it. The procedure is used to diagnose diseases and conditions, collect tissue samples, and treat problems in the digestive system.