Endoscopic Screening: simple, safe, and unintimidating

• Endoscopic screening is suitable for individuals aged 45 and above, or individuals aged 40 and above with a family history of stomach, colon, or related digestive system cancers.
• There are two methods of administering endoscopic screening: one using topical anesthesia spray for the throat and one using general anesthesia, both of which must be performed under medical supervision.
• An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (gastroscopy) takes approximately 20-30 minutes, while a lower gastrointestinal endoscopy (colonoscopy) takes around 30-45 minutes. Both require preparation according to the doctor's instructions.

An endoscopic examination is a form of diagnosis and treatment procedure for gastrointestinal disorders. It utilizes a long tube-like camera inserted through the mouth or rectum and can be classified as follows:

1. Gastroscopy: An examination of the esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine, which takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.
2. Colonoscopy: An examination of the lower small intestine, colon, and rectum, which takes approximately 30-45 minutes to complete.

Additionally, capsule endoscopy can be used to diagnose the middle part of the small intestine, which typically takes 8–12 hours.

There are two methods of administering an endoscopic examination, as follows:

1. Topical anesthesia spray for the throat: Patients can return home immediately following this type of procedure.
2. General anesthesia: Patients need to wait for about 2 hours to recover from the sedative effects before going home. However, patients should not drive themselves home after the procedure because the sedatives or local anesthesia used during the examination may cause drowsiness, weakness, or confusion. It is therefore advisable that they rest and have a family member accompany them home.

1. Topical anesthesia spray for the throat: Patients can return home immediately following this type of procedure.
2. General anesthesia: Patients need to wait for about 2 hours to recover from the sedative effects before going home. However, patients should not drive themselves home after the procedure because the sedatives or local anesthesia used during the examination may cause drowsiness, weakness, or confusion. It is therefore advisable that they rest and have a family member accompany them home.

• Being an individual aged 45 and above, or being over 40 with a family history of stomach or colon cancer, or having polyps detected in the colon.
• Experiencing abdominal pain accompanied by signs of anemia, as this may be indicative of a risk of chronic ulcers or bleeding tumors in the stomach.
• Experiencing rapid weight loss alongside abdominal pain, despite no change in diet or appetite.
• Experiencing difficulty swallowing or painful swallowing, indicating abnormalities in the esophagus.
• Experiencing chronic abdominal pain, bloating, frequent vomiting, or vomiting blood.
• Experiencing alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation, passing bloody stools, or passing blackened stools without taking any medication affecting stool color during that time.

1. After the patient gargles with a special solution or is sedated, the doctor inserts a small, flexible tube through the mouth, which has a light at the end to ensure greater clarity during the examination.
2. The patient lies on their left side, and the endoscope is inserted through the mouth. The patient is asked to relax and not tense up, so as to make the insertion easier. The doctor examines from the throat, through the esophagus and stomach, to the beginning of the small intestine. If any abnormalities are found, the doctor can immediately remove tissue samples for further examination.
3. If small polyps are found, the doctor can use the tools available to remove them for examination at the same time as providing treatment. This procedure takes an additional 2-3 minutes and does not cause any additional discomfort to the patient.

Colonoscopy screening is a procedure that uses a flexible tube inserted through the anus into the large intestine to examine the entire colon for abnormalities. It may also involve examining the end of the small intestine and assisting in collecting tissue samples for further diagnosis. The procedure typically takes about 30-45 minutes to complete.

Patients are required to fast for at least 8 hours and abstain from water before the examination or take bowel-cleansing medication to clear the intestines, as determined by the doctor performing the procedure.
 

For patients who receive local anesthesia, it is advisable that they wait approximately 15-30 minutes for the anesthesia to wear off before starting to drink water. If there is no sensation of numbness in the throat or difficulty swallowing, they can begin consuming soft foods.

In the case of sedation, the effects of medication may last for 5-15 minutes after the endoscopic procedure. Patients should therefore rest until fully awake before seeing the doctor to discuss the examination results.

1. There may be a sensation of irritation in the throat after the examination.
2. There might be discomfort in the chest, abdomen, or difficulty breathing compared to before the procedure.
3. If tissue samples are collected, there may be a slight amount of blood mixed in with saliva.

Endoscopic screening of the digestive system is not as intimidating as it may appear. It is, in fact, a rapid, secure, and effective means of identifying any irregular symptoms. If you or your family have a history of illnesses related to these symptoms, a specialist should be seen promptly to enable an early examination. In this way, you can ensure you are taking proper care of yourself or receiving timely treatment.