Digestive tract endoscopy

Digestive tract endoscopy is used to investigate

• either the upper part of the digestive tract: oesophagus, stomach, duodenum (= Esophagogastroduodenoscopy)
• or the lower part: colon (= colonoscopy).

Certain interventions can be performed on the digestive tract during an endoscopy such as polyp and mucosal resection, banding of oesophageal varices, percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy, argon plasma coagulation, haemostasis by clips or injection of haemostatic product, digestive stenosis dilation, etc.

A gastroenterology consultation must be completed before any digestive tract endoscopy intervention.

Most digestive tract endoscopy interventions are completed under general anaesthetic. A consultation with an anaesthetist must be completed at least 48 hours before the intervention.