Endoscopy is a minimally invasive medical procedure that allows doctors to examine the interior of various organs and structures within the body. It involves the use of an endoscope, a flexible tube with a camera and light source attached to its tip. Endoscopes come in different types and sizes depending on the area of the body being examined. The procedure can be performed through natural body openings such as the mouth, anus, or urethra, or through small incisions in the skin.

During an endoscopy, the endoscope is carefully inserted into the body and advanced to the target area. The camera at the tip of the endoscope transmits real-time images to a monitor, allowing the doctor to visualize the internal structures. Endoscopy can be used for diagnostic purposes to investigate symptoms such as abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, difficulty swallowing, or respiratory problems. It can also be used for therapeutic purposes, such as removing polyps, taking tissue samples (biopsies), treating bleeding ulcers, or placing stents to open narrowed passages.

Common types of endoscopy include upper endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD), colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, bronchoscopy, cystoscopy, and hysteroscopy, among others. Each type of endoscopy is tailored to examine specific areas of the body.

Treatment during endoscopy can vary widely depending on the specific condition being addressed.

 
It may involve:

• Removal of abnormal tissue growths (polyps)
• Biopsy to collect tissue samples for further analysis
• Treatment of bleeding ulcers or lesions
• Placement of stents to open blocked passages
• Dilatation of strictures or narrowings in the digestive tract
• Removal of foreign objects
• Treatment of varices with band ligation or glue injection
• Hemostasis (control of bleeding) using various techniques such as thermal coagulation, injection of hemostatic agents, or clipping of blood vessels