Endoscopy

An endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure used to examine the inside of your GI tract. During an endoscopy, the cause of your symptoms can be diagnosed and treated. Dr. Jeffrey Fenyves and Dr. Stephen Fry have successfully performed many endoscopies of the upper GI tract when their patients have symptoms like difficulty swallowing and abdominal pain. If you have questions about endoscopy, call one of their offices in Kingsport, Johnson City, and Elizabethton, Tennessee, or book an appointment online to have your symptoms evaluated.

Endoscopy Q & A

What is endoscopy?

An endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure used to examine the inside of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It’s done using an endoscope, which is a long, thin, flexible tube that contains a video camera.

As your doctor gently threads the endoscope through your GI tract, the camera sends magnified images to a computer screen that allow your doctor to see inflammation, ulcers, polyps, tumors, and other problems.

How is endoscopy used?

Endoscopy serves two purposes: It diagnoses the cause of your symptoms and to treat conditions found during the visual examination.

While the endoscope is in place, special medical tools can be inserted through the scope to take a biopsy or perform minimally invasive surgery, such as removing tissue. The doctors at Tri-Cities Gastroenterology frequently perform upper and lower GI endoscopies.

What is an upper GI endoscopy?

An upper GI endoscopy examines and treats the upper part of your GI tract, which includes your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, or the first part of your small intestine just past your stomach. After administering anesthesia, your doctor guides the endoscope through your mouth and down the GI tract.

You may need an upper GI to determine the underlying cause of problems such as trouble swallowing, indigestion, abdominal pain, and nausea. A few conditions often diagnosed using an upper GI endoscopy include:

Barrett’s esophagus
Acid reflux
H-pylori infection
Peptic ulcer disease

What is esophageal dilation?

If you have trouble swallowing or feel like food gets stuck in your chest, the problem may be due to a narrowing of your esophagus. This condition often develops when acid reflux scars the esophageal lining.

During an endoscopy, your doctor can stretch the narrowed area using a dilating balloon, plastic dilators, or a tapered dilating instrument. When the procedure is over, you’ll be able to swallow normally.

What is a lower GI endoscopy?

Lower GI endoscopies are better known as colonoscopies because this type of procedure uses a variety of endoscope called a colonoscope.

Colonoscopies examine your colon or large intestine, allowing your doctor to screen for colon cancer, find and remove polyps, and detect other problems like inflammatory bowel disease and diverticulitis.

To learn more about endoscopy, call Tri-Cities Gastroenterology or if you have symptoms affecting your upper or lower GI tract, book an appointment online.