Use of Endoscope in Surgery

MedTech Outlook | Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Endoscopy has advanced in recent years, allowing some types of surgery to be performed with a modified endoscope, resulting in a less intrusive procedure.

FREMONT, CA: Endoscopes are minimally invasive instruments that can be put into body openings such as the mouth or the anus. They can also be placed into minor incisions, such as those in the knee or abdomen.

Keyhole surgery is a type of surgery in which a small incision is made, and special devices, such as an endoscope are used to help with the procedure. Modern endoscopy has shown to be extremely valuable in many fields of medicine because it poses low dangers, provides detailed images and is rapid to perform. Every year, tens of millions of endoscopies are performed.

Endoscope Use in Surgery

Endoscopy has advanced in recent years, allowing some types of surgery to be performed with a modified endoscope, resulting in a less intrusive procedure. Gallbladder removal, fallopian tube sealing and tying, and the excision of tiny malignancies from the digestive system or lungs are becoming regular procedures.

A laparoscope is a keyhole surgical endoscope that has been modified (also referred to as laparoscopic surgery). Hysterectomies (removal of the uterus), appendectomies (removal of the appendix), and prostatectomies can all be done with laparoscopic surgery, which requires only a minor incision (removal of prostate tissue). Patients lose less blood after and during surgery with this technique, and they recover considerably faster than with other surgical procedures.

Although endoscopy is a fairly safe treatment, it can have some hazards. The risks vary depending on the area being investigated. Endoscopy has the following risks:

• Over-sedation, even though sedation is not always required
• Feeling bloated for a few hours after the procedure
• Slight cramps
• A numb throat for a few hours due to the use of a local anesthetic
• Tear or perforation of the lining of the esophagus or stomach or occurs in one in every 2,500-11,000 cases
• Infection of the region of investigation: this most usually happens when other procedures are performed simultaneously. In most cases, the infections are small and may be treated with medication.
• Persistent pain in the part of the endoscopy.
• Complications related to preexisting conditions.
• Internal bleeding, normally minor and sometimes treatable by endoscopic cauterization.