What is endoscopy equipment?
Endoscopy equipment is used for direct visualization and inspection of the gastrointestinal, urinary, and respiratory systems. Endoscopies are also used to obtain precise biopsies from the organs in these systems. It is a much less invasive procedure that can significantly aid in diagnosing an animal.
An endoscope is a long, flexible tube with a viewing port or video camera at the end. It is inserted through the mouth or rectum depending on the part of the animal that needs to be examined.
What can be seen with an endoscopy?
Endoscopies allow a full-color viewing of the internal side of organs such as the esophagus, stomach, upper small intestine, and colon. However, as endoscopy equipment develops, the capabilities continue to expand.
Endoscopies can identify:
- Inflammation
- Abnormal swelling
- Areas of scarring
- Stricture (abnormal narrowing)
- Foreign bodies (Coins, toys, or other objects stuck in the digestive tract)
Endoscopes can be used for bronchoscopy, esophagoscopy, tracheoscopy, otoscopy, rhinoscopy, and thoracoscopy.
How does the vet reach a diagnosis?
While viewing abnormalities can give veterinarians valuable information, additional imaging and testing is typically necessary to reach a final diagnosis. One of the capabilities of an endoscope is facilitating precise biopsies. A biopsy is the process of taking a small piece of tissue from the lining of an organ to be examined.
Some diseases create changes that are only visible via histopathology, under a microscope. This means that biopsies are taken even if the tissue looks normal to the naked eye during an endoscopy.
Can cancer be diagnosed with an endoscopy?
Endoscopies are often used in the process of diagnosing cancer that develops along the gastrointestinal tract. However, some tumors don’t affect the inner lining of the stomach, making them hidden from the view of an endoscope. This is when additional diagnostic imaging would be necessary.
Preparing for an endoscopy
Prior to an endoscopy, the stomach and intestines need to be completely clear. A 12-hour fast is a normal protocol to ensure the animal’s system is cleared fully before the procedure. If the colon is to be examined, oral medication will be started 8-12 hours before the procedure to clear the fecal matter from the colon. General anesthesia is used during the procedure, as passing an endoscope through to the stomach of a conscious dog is impossible.
Results
Results from an endoscopy are available almost immediately as the vet is seeing firsthand what is going on. The results from biopsies, however, can take up to a week to receive depending on the circumstances.