What is a small-bowel endoscopy? How does it differ from a colonoscopy? What can you expect during the procedure? Get the answers to these crucial questions and more in this detailed article.

Understanding Small Bowel Endoscopy

The small intestine, also known as the small bowel, plays a crucial role in our digestive system, connecting the stomach to the large intestine (colon). However, this vital organ can be the site of various painful conditions, such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease. To accurately diagnose and treat these issues, healthcare providers often turn to a specialized procedure called small-bowel endoscopy, or deep endoscopy.

Small-bowel endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows healthcare professionals to examine the entire length of the small intestine, which can span up to 20 feet. This is accomplished through the use of specialized balloons that fit over a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope, which is equipped with a light and a video camera.

Distinguishing Small-Bowel Endoscopy from Colonoscopy

While both small-bowel endoscopy and colonoscopy are types of endoscopic procedures, they serve different purposes and target different areas of the digestive tract. Colonoscopy, for instance, is primarily used to examine the large intestine (colon), whereas small-bowel endoscopy is specifically designed to explore the small intestine.

The key advantage of small-bowel endoscopy is its ability to view any part of the digestive tract, including areas that may be affected by conditions like Crohn’s disease. This makes it a more comprehensive diagnostic tool compared to colonoscopy, which is limited to the large intestine.

Preparing for Your Small-Bowel Endoscopy

Before your small-bowel endoscopy, your healthcare provider will provide you with specific instructions on how to prepare for the procedure. This may include fasting (not eating or drinking) for a certain period of time to ensure your stomach is empty. Additionally, if you take any blood-thinning medications, you may need to stop taking them a few days before the endoscopy to reduce the risk of bleeding during the procedure.

On the day of your small-bowel endoscopy, you will be sedated by an anesthesiologist. While you are sedated, your healthcare provider will gently pass the endoscope through your mouth, down your stomach, and into your small intestine. This process is typically painless, and the entire procedure can take an hour or two to complete.

What Happens After the Procedure?

After your small-bowel endoscopy, you will be allowed to rest until the sedation wears off. During this time, your healthcare provider may collect small tissue samples (biopsies) for further analysis, if necessary. Once you are fully awake and alert, you will be able to leave the facility, but you will not be able to drive yourself home. It is important to arrange for a ride or transportation from someone who can accompany you after the procedure.

The Importance of Small-Bowel Endoscopy

Small-bowel endoscopy is a valuable diagnostic tool that can help healthcare providers accurately identify the cause of your digestive discomfort and develop a comprehensive treatment plan. Unlike colonoscopy, which is limited to the large intestine, small-bowel endoscopy allows for a more thorough examination of the entire digestive tract, making it particularly useful for conditions that may affect the small intestine, such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease.

The Role of Specialized Expertise

Performing a small-bowel endoscopy requires a high level of coordination and expertise, which is why not all healthcare facilities offer this procedure. However, at Henry Ford Health, our team of specialists in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have the necessary skills and experience to conduct small-bowel endoscopies with precision, ensuring accurate diagnoses and tailored treatment plans for our patients.

Seeking Comprehensive Care

No matter the cause of your digestive symptoms, the team at Henry Ford Health is here to provide the comprehensive care you need. From small-bowel endoscopy to other diagnostic procedures and personalized treatment options, we are dedicated to helping you find the relief and answers you deserve.

Small Bowel Endoscopy | Inflammatory Bowel Disease | Henry Ford Health

Minimally invasive procedure for diagnosing IBD.

Your small intestine, also known as the small bowel, connects the stomach to the large intestine (colon). The small bowel is often the site of painful conditions, such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease (an immune disease in which eating foods with gluten leads to damage in the small intestine).

At Henry Ford, we use several diagnostic procedures to determine the cause of your discomfort, where in your digestive tract the issue is located and how severe the issue is. One of these procedures is small-bowel endoscopy, also known as deep endoscopy. Some other digestive centers don’t offer small-bowel endoscopy because of the time and coordination involved in the procedure, but it’s a valuable tool that helps us accurately diagnose our patients.

Our team includes specialists in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with the expertise you need for a precise diagnosis and comprehensive treatment. No matter what’s causing your symptoms, we’re here to help.

What is a small-bowel endoscopy?

A small-bowel endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure in which we examine your entire small intestine, which is about 20 feet long. We use special balloons that fit over a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope, which has a light and a video camera. By inflating and deflating the balloons, we move the small bowel over the endoscope so we can examine it.

The endoscope lets us see nearly any part of the small bowel so we can diagnose the cause of your symptoms. We also can treat your condition if needed with the help of tiny tools we pass through the endoscope and into your small bowel.

What’s the difference between a small-bowel endoscopy and a colonoscopy?

While small-bowel endoscopy and colonoscopy are both types of endoscopy, the procedures are very different. Because Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, we use small-bowel endoscopy for its greater ability to view any part of the digestive tract. Colonoscopy, by contrast, lets us view changes and areas of concern in the large intestine (colon) only.

Because of a colonoscopy’s more limited viewing area, a small-bowel endoscopy is the better choice for locating and diagnosing Crohn’s disease.

What to expect during your small-bowel endoscopy

Before your procedure, we’ll give you instructions on how to prepare for your small-bowel endoscopy. You may need to fast (not eat or drink) before your endoscopy so your stomach is empty for the procedure.

If you take certain blood-thinning medications, you may need to stop taking them in the days before your endoscopy, as these medications can increase your risk of bleeding during the procedure. Your doctor will give you instructions about any medications you may take for chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure.

On the day of your procedure, one of our expert anesthesiologists will sedate you. While you’re sedated, your doctor will pass the endoscope through your mouth and stomach and into the small intestine. You will not feel any pain during your endoscopy.

The procedure will last an hour or two. Afterward, you’ll rest until your sedation wears off. You won’t be able to drive, so please plan on having someone available to take you home.

Understanding upper endoscopy and colonoscopy – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Visiting Dana-Farber? See our prescreening and mask requirements.

• 
  
  

  What is endoscopy?

  Endoscopy is a procedure in which the gastro-intestinal tract (GI tract) is viewed through a lighted, flexible tube with a camera at the end (endoscope). Small samples of tissues cells (biopsy) can also be collected and sent for testing.

  There are two basic types of endoscopy:

  1. Upper endoscopy – The esophagus, stomach, and small intestines can be viewed by a thin flexible tube inserted through the mouth.
  2. Colonoscopy – The lining of the large intestine, colon and rectum can be viewed by a flexible tube inserted through the rectum.

  Preparation

  • Blood tests are sometimes required.
  • Medications can be given by vein if needed.
  • Please arrange for a ride home. You may feel drowsy after the procedure due to medications.
  • Upper endoscopy: No food or drink is allowed for six hours before the procedure. An empty stomach allows for the best view and safest exam.
  • Colonoscopy: Drink only clear liquids for at least 24 hours before the procedure. A laxative or special cleansing solution will be ordered by the physician to clear the bowel of stool so that the rectum/intestines can be seen. (See below for specific instructions)

  Day of procedure

  • The doctor will explain the procedure and get your consent.
  • Tell your doctor about medications you are taking.
  • Discuss allergies to medications and other medical conditions.
  • This is the time to ask questions about procedure.

  What can I expect during upper endoscopy?

  Your doctor will spray your throat with a local anesthetic or give you a sedative to help you relax. You’ll then lie on your side, and a doctor will pass the endoscope through your mouth and into the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. The endoscope doesn’t interfere with your breathing. Most patients consider the test only slightly uncomfortable, and many patients fall asleep during the procedure.

  What happens after upper endoscopy?

  You will be observed closely until most of the effects of the medication have worn off. Your throat might be a little sore, and you might feel temporarily bloated due to the air introduced into your stomach during the test. You will be able to eat after you leave unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

  Your doctor generally can tell you your test results on the day of the procedure; however, the results of some tests might take several days.

  If you received sedatives, you won’t be allowed to drive after the procedure even though you might not feel tired. You should arrange for someone to accompany you home because the sedatives may affect your judgment and reflexes for the rest of the day.

  What happens during colonoscopy?

  Colonoscopy is well-tolerated and rarely causes much pain. You might feel pressure, bloating or cramping during the procedure. You will likely receive a sedative to help you relax and better tolerate any discomfort.

  You will lie on your side or back while your doctor slowly advances a flexible tube (colonoscope) through your large intestine to examine the lining. The whole procedure itself usually takes 45 to 60 minutes, although you should plan on two to three hours for waiting, preparation and recovery.

  What happens after a colonoscopy?

  Your physician will explain the results of the examination to you, although you’ll have to wait for the results of any biopsies performed. If you were given sedatives during the procedure, someone must drive you home and stay with you. Even if you feel alert after the procedure, your judgment and reflexes could be slow for the rest of the day. You may have some cramping or bloating because of the air introduced into the colon during the examination. This should disappear quickly when you pass gas.

  You should be able to eat after the examination, but your doctor may restrict your diet and activities, especially after the removal of any polyps.

  
  
  

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• Treatments & Procedures

What is bowel endoscopy: how to prepare and undergo an examination, indications and contraindications

Bowel endoscopy is a type of diagnostic examination that allows you to see the state of this organ from the inside. It is performed using an endoscope – a flexible device equipped with light, a camera, and in some cases a needle for biopsy (taking a tissue sample for examination in a laboratory).

Types of endoscopy

There are several main types of endoscopic examination of the intestine:

• Capsule – used to examine the small intestine; the patient swallows the capsule, which contains a camera that takes pictures as it moves; data is transmitted using a sensor, and the capsule itself subsequently leaves the body naturally
• Colonoscopy – endoscopic examination of the large intestine; a tube of small diameter and long length (up to one and a half meters) is inserted through the rectum
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy – used to examine the esophagus, stomach, and the initial area of ​​the small intestine; during the procedure, a gastroscope (a type of endoscope) is inserted into the patient through the oral cavity and pharynx to a depth of 30 cm
• Sigmoidoscopy – endoscopic examination of the rectum; during the procedure, an endoscopic device

is inserted through the rectum to a depth of 30 centimeters

Indications for bowel endoscopy

Each type of bowel endoscopy is used to identify different diseases:

• Capsule
• Bleeding from the area of ​​the small intestine
• Crohn’s disease
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Neoplasms of the small intestine
• Colonoscopy
• Discharge of blood, mucous or purulent masses from the intestines
• Pain in the anus
• Inflammation, colitis
• Change or disturbance of stool
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
• Peptic ulcer
• Gastritis
• Bleeding
• Violation of the digestive tract
• Suspicion of a malignant tumor
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Chronic hemorrhagic disease
• Probability of neoplasm in large intestine
• Paraproctitis
• Suspected prostate tumor (in men)

The doctor may also send the patient for an endoscopic examination of the colon, small intestine, or rectum if symptoms such as:

• Abdominal pain of unknown origin
• Foreign body in intestines
• Gastric or intestinal obstruction
• Weight loss with anemia, high fever
• Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract

Endoscopy can also be done to monitor results after surgery.

Contraindications

Endoscopic examination of the intestine is not performed if the patient:

• Diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis
• Impaired blood clotting
• Bowel perforation suspected
• Abnormal enlargement of the colon (toxic megacolon)
• State of shock
• Severe mental disorders
• Inflammatory or edematous lesions of the areas through which the endoscope will be inserted
• Acute heart disease
• Allergic reactions

Preparing for your procedure

Preparing for an endoscopic examination of the intestine consists of two main steps:

• Diet 2 days before procedure
• Cleansing the gastrointestinal tract from food debris and feces on the eve of the procedure

Diet includes:

• Lean boiled fish or chicken
• Dairy products
• Lean biscuits (biscuits, etc. )

Should be eliminated from the diet:

• Milk
• Black bread
• Kvass
• Legumes (beans, peas, etc.)
• Cereals (millet, oatmeal, etc.)
• Fresh (not cooked) fruits, berries, vegetables, herbs

Cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract should be carried out with an enema or special preparations (they may be prescribed by a doctor).

How bowel endoscopy is performed

The procedure depends on the type of procedure.

Capsule endoscopy:

• The patient swallows a capsule with a camera
• The camera moves through the digestive tract and takes pictures
• Images are transferred to the doctor’s computer
• Specialist can control the camera, turn it on or off temporarily
• The patient can be in any position, engage in various activities
• Treatment lasts 8-9 hours
• The camera is removed from the body of the subject in a natural way

Colonoscopy:

• The patient lies on his side with his legs drawn up to his stomach (he lies on his back when necessary)
• Physician administering local anesthesia
• The device is placed in the patient’s rectum to a depth of 30 cm
• If necessary, during the manipulations, medical procedures can be carried out: removal of a neoplasm, stop bleeding, removal of a foreign body
• Colonoscopy lasts 30 minutes to 1 hour

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy:

• The patient lies on the left side
• Physician applying local anesthesia
• The endoscope is placed through the mouth into the esophagus and then into the stomach and duodenum
• According to the indications, small foreign bodies can be removed during the examination, and a tissue sample can be taken for laboratory testing
• The procedure lasts 5-20 minutes (depending on the manipulations to be carried out)

Sigmoidoscopy:

• The patient stands in the knee-elbow position on the couch
• Doctor examines the anus by palpation
• The instrument is lubricated with petroleum jelly and inserted into the rectum
• The specialist removes the stop and places the endoscope further
• The tip of the device moves along the intestinal lumen
• Treatment lasts 10-15 minutes

Advantages of the procedure at MEDSI

• MEDSI clinics are equipped with modern equipment – video endoscopic systems and instruments from the Japanese company Olympus and German Xion – which allows you to make the diagnosis most accurately and quickly
• Application of various types of endo-procedures and other diagnostic methods
• If necessary, doctors of related profiles are involved in the diagnosis
• Patients are offered a comfortable hospital and international level service

To make an appointment for a consultation, call the round-the-clock phone 8 (495) 7-800-500.

Do not delay treatment, see a doctor now:

• Endoscopy
• Endoscopy Center at CDC on Krasnaya Presnya
• MSCT of the intestine (virtual colonoscopy)

Endoscopy – what it is, what are the advantages

Endoscopy is an invasive method for examining hollow organs using endoscopes – flexible tubes equipped with a light source and passages for inserting surgical instruments. Endoscopic research methods are widely used in proctology, gastroenterology, otolaryngology, oncology, surgery and other areas of medicine.

The uniqueness of the method is due to its accuracy and information content. During the procedure, the doctor can take the material for a histological examination, carry out a number of therapeutic measures, and reliably assess the condition of the membranes lining the organ. Endoscopy – what kind of procedure it is, what are the advantages – experts will answer these and other questions in the article below.

Possibilities of endoscopy

Endoscopy is considered a universal method for detecting diseases of hollow organs and entire systems. The procedure is prescribed as a primary or differential diagnosis. The possibilities of endoscopic examination are wide:

• early diagnosis of structural changes in mucous membranes, tumors;
• detection of erosive foci, polyps, diverticula, ulcers;
• determination of infectious and inflammatory foci;
• tissue biopsy with biopsy sampling for histological analysis;
• administration of drugs for the purpose of antibacterial or antiseptic treatment of a hollow organ;
• laser treatment, cryodestruction method (for example, when removing polyposis formations).

Thanks to endoscopy, low-traumatic surgical interventions, catheterization, bypass procedures can be performed.

Scope

Rigid or flexible endoscopes (fiberscopes) are used in endoscopy. Flexible have a fiberglass structure – an image conductor to a computer.

Today, video endoscopes equipped with a miniature video camera are more commonly used. The device transmits information to the computer in real time. The tube of rigid endoscopes is made of metal. Main types of endoscopes:

• arthroscope – study of articular structures;
• hysteroscope for examining the internal female genital organs;
• colonoscope – allows you to examine the large intestine;
• proctosigmoscope – the equipment allows diagnosing diseases of the rectum and sigmoid colon;
• tracheobronchoscope – examines the airways;
• laparoscope – used in the diagnosis of diseases of the peritoneum and abdominal space;
• gastroscope (esophagogastroduodenoscope) – the equipment allows you to evaluate the organ complex of the upper digestive tract;
• cystoscope – a device used in urology, nephrology and gynecology for the diagnosis of diseases of the genitourinary system.

The endoscopy procedure is named according to the equipment chosen. So, when using a colonoscope as part of the diagnosis of proctological diseases, they talk about colonoscopy, when using an arthroscope, about conducting arthroscopy, if necessary, studies of the gastrointestinal tract suggest fibrogastroduodenoscopy.

How an endoscopy is done

Endoscopic examination is carried out through natural anatomical passages. The procedure is often performed under local anesthesia to maintain patient contact on an outpatient basis. Sometimes the question of the need for anesthesia is decided.

In some cases, such as laparoscopy, the insertion of the equipment is carried out through punctures. In this case, patients are in the hospital until the state of health normalizes.

Endoscopic technique is widely used for appendicitis, removal of the gallbladder, tumors, heart bypass. Endoscopy in surgery reduces the invasiveness of the operation, accelerates the recovery of patients and minimizes intra- and postoperative complications.

The most common endoscopic examinations

Most often, endoscopy is performed in gastroenterological and proctological practice. These studies are distinguished by their availability and good tolerability by patients. How is endoscopy performed in the study of the upper and lower digestive tract, the genitourinary system.

FGDS or fibrogastroduodenoscopy

Performed when the patient complains of discomfort and pain in the stomach, in preparation for abdominal surgery, for dynamic control of the prescribed treatment. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and lasts no more than 5 minutes.

The gastroscope is inserted into the patient through the oropharynx, having previously treated the throat with a solution of lidocaine. The patient is fitted with a mouthpiece, which must be clamped with teeth. At the deep entrance, the endoscope is immersed through the esophagus to the stomach. Inspection is carried out with the injection of air into the cavity of the stomach to straighten the mucous membranes for better visualization.

At the end of the examination, the doctor makes a conclusion. If necessary, take pictures, fix the nuances of the study.

Intestinal examination

Endoscopy of the intestine or colonoscopy is a common method for detecting diseases of the large intestine, various pathological changes in the membranes. Examination of the lining mucous membranes and the walls of the organ is performed using a flexible endoscope for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Indications for intestinal endoscopy are:

• heaviness during emptying, constipation, episodes of intestinal obstruction;
• ulcerative erosive process;
• bleeding of the digestive tract;
• pain;
• polyps, neoplasms.

In diseases of the rectum in the sigmoid segment of the intestine, sigmoidoscopy is indicated. The study is carried out using a proctoscope – a tube with a lighting device and an air injection mechanism. Sigmoidoscopy allows you to assess the length of the intestine up to 22-30 cm from the entrance to the anus.

Genitourinary system

Endoscopy in urology or gynecology is a ureteroscopy or cystoscopy procedure. Both methods can detect diseases of the bladder and urinary tract.

Cystoscopy allows you to evaluate the function of the kidneys, the condition of the bladder, the presence of foreign bodies, foci of ureteral stricture. With the help of a cystoscope, it is possible to carry out procedures for instilling the bladder with antibacterial drugs, antiseptics for chronic cystitis, install a urethral catheter, and take tissues for histological examination.

Today, endoscopy is the method of choice in the diagnosis of hollow organs, along with ultrasound examination. The procedure has a wide range of indications and possibilities. After an endoscopic examination, the reliability of the final diagnosis increases dramatically. Modern diagnostic approaches minimize discomfort and pain for patients.

Endoscopy is an invasive method for examining hollow organs using endoscopes – flexible tubes equipped with a light source and passages for inserting surgical instruments. Endoscopic research methods are widely used in proctology, gastroenterology, otolaryngology, oncology, surgery and other areas of medicine.

The uniqueness of the method is due to its accuracy and information content. During the procedure, the doctor can take the material for a histological examination, carry out a number of therapeutic measures, and reliably assess the condition of the membranes lining the organ. Endoscopy – what kind of procedure it is, what are the advantages – experts will answer these and other questions in the article below.

Possibilities of endoscopy

Endoscopy is considered a universal method for detecting diseases of hollow organs and entire systems. The procedure is prescribed as a primary or differential diagnosis. The possibilities of endoscopic examination are wide:

• early diagnosis of structural changes in mucous membranes, tumors;
• detection of erosive foci, polyps, diverticula, ulcers;
• determination of infectious and inflammatory foci;
• tissue biopsy with biopsy sampling for histological analysis;
• administration of drugs for the purpose of antibacterial or antiseptic treatment of a hollow organ;
• laser treatment, cryodestruction method (for example, when removing polyposis formations).

Thanks to endoscopy, low-traumatic surgical interventions, catheterization, bypass procedures can be performed.

Scope

Rigid or flexible endoscopes (fiberscopes) are used in endoscopy. Flexible have a fiberglass structure – an image conductor to a computer.

Today, video endoscopes equipped with a miniature video camera are more commonly used. The device transmits information to the computer in real time. The tube of rigid endoscopes is made of metal. Main types of endoscopes:

• arthroscope – study of articular structures;
• hysteroscope for examining the internal female genital organs;
• colonoscope – allows you to examine the large intestine;
• proctosigmoscope – the equipment allows diagnosing diseases of the rectum and sigmoid colon;
• tracheobronchoscope – examines the airways;
• laparoscope – used in the diagnosis of diseases of the peritoneum and abdominal space;
• gastroscope (esophagogastroduodenoscope) – the equipment allows you to evaluate the organ complex of the upper digestive tract;
• cystoscope – a device used in urology, nephrology and gynecology for the diagnosis of diseases of the genitourinary system.

The endoscopy procedure is named according to the equipment chosen. So, when using a colonoscope as part of the diagnosis of proctological diseases, they talk about colonoscopy, when using an arthroscope, about conducting arthroscopy, if necessary, studies of the gastrointestinal tract suggest fibrogastroduodenoscopy.

How an endoscopy is done

Endoscopic examination is carried out through natural anatomical passages. The procedure is often performed under local anesthesia to maintain patient contact on an outpatient basis. Sometimes the question of the need for anesthesia is decided.

In some cases, such as laparoscopy, the insertion of the equipment is carried out through punctures. In this case, patients are in the hospital until the state of health normalizes.

Endoscopic technique is widely used for appendicitis, removal of the gallbladder, tumors, heart bypass. Endoscopy in surgery reduces the invasiveness of the operation, accelerates the recovery of patients and minimizes intra- and postoperative complications.

The most common endoscopic examinations

Most often, endoscopy is performed in gastroenterological and proctological practice. These studies are distinguished by their availability and good tolerability by patients. How is endoscopy performed in the study of the upper and lower digestive tract, the genitourinary system.

FGDS or fibrogastroduodenoscopy

Performed when the patient complains of discomfort and pain in the stomach, in preparation for abdominal surgery, for dynamic control of the prescribed treatment. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and lasts no more than 5 minutes.

The gastroscope is inserted into the patient through the oropharynx, having previously treated the throat with a solution of lidocaine. The patient is fitted with a mouthpiece, which must be clamped with teeth. At the deep entrance, the endoscope is immersed through the esophagus to the stomach. Inspection is carried out with the injection of air into the cavity of the stomach to straighten the mucous membranes for better visualization.

At the end of the examination, the doctor makes a conclusion. If necessary, take pictures, fix the nuances of the study.

Intestinal examination

Endoscopy of the intestine or colonoscopy is a common method for detecting diseases of the large intestine, various pathological changes in the membranes. Examination of the lining mucous membranes and the walls of the organ is performed using a flexible endoscope for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Indications for intestinal endoscopy are:

• heaviness during emptying, constipation, episodes of intestinal obstruction;
• ulcerative erosive process;
• bleeding of the digestive tract;
• pain;
• polyps, neoplasms.

In diseases of the rectum in the sigmoid segment of the intestine, sigmoidoscopy is indicated. The study is carried out using a proctoscope – a tube with a lighting device and an air injection mechanism. Sigmoidoscopy allows you to assess the length of the intestine up to 22-30 cm from the entrance to the anus.