Endoscopy is a minimally-invasive diagnostic medical procedure in which a flexible tube is used to examine the inside of the body. The lighted flexible instrument, an endoscope, contains a camera with which a medical professional can inspect the internal organs. The physician can also insert instruments into the endoscope to take tissue samples for further testing or to treat internal bleeding.

In most cases of endoscopy, the physician inserts the tube through a natural opening in the body, such as the mouth or anus. In other situations, an endoscope is inserted through a small incision. The procedure is short, usually lasting thirty minutes or less. The endoscope allows the physician to see areas of inflammation or bleeding that do not show up clearly on x-rays.

Reasons for performing an endoscopy include symptoms such as bleeding, pain, or a change in bowel habits. An endoscopy is also performed to examine the colon for polyps. Endoscopy is most commonly used to examine areas of the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and areas of the intestine.

It is also possible to examine the respiratory and urinary tracts, the abdomen and chest, joints, and the reproductive system through forms of endoscopy. Each particular procedure has a specific name ending with –oscopy. Endoscopy is also used for various procedures during pregnancy and even for some plastic surgeries.

An upper endoscopy is also called esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). This procedure can identify the cause of symptoms such as swallowing difficulty, nausea, vomiting, or reflux. Other conditions that might be investigated through endoscopy are indigestion and abdominal or chest pain.

During an upper endoscopy, the patient receives a numbing agent to prevent gagging when the endoscope is inserted in the throat. Often, patients are given pain medication and sedatives as well. As the scope also forces air into the stomach, it allows the physician to see the folds of tissue inside the stomach and, therefore, make a more careful analysis.

In advance of an upper endoscopy, the patient must refrain from eating or drinking for a minimum of six hours so that the stomach is empty. If a patient has been given a sedative prior to the procedure, he or she will need to stay at the medical facility until the effects of the sedative wear off. The patient will also need someone to drive him or her home. Complications from an endoscopy are rare, but can include bleeding or the puncture of an area under inspection.