1- What is therapeutic endoscopy?
2- Why is it performed?
3- What does it consist of?
4- Preparing for therapeutic endoscopy
5- Care after the procedure
6- Alternatives to this treatment
What is therapeutic endoscopy?
Therapeutic endoscopy is a type of endoscopy used to definitively cure some disorders or to try to mitigate the effects of some diseases. During the endoscopy the patient is completely sedated.
Why is it performed?
Therapeutic endoscopy is a technique used to treat or repair some injuries definitively. In addition, it can also relieve discomfort to improve the patient’s quality of life.
What does it consist of?
Therapeutic endoscopy is performed through the mouth or anus by incorporating an endoscope that reaches the part of the body to be treated. The lesion is then treated by means of a built-in camera or X-rays.
Preparation for therapeutic endoscopy
Depending on the route by which the endoscopy is to be performed, one preparation or another will be necessary. If it is performed by mouth it is necessary for the patient to fast for 8 hours before the intervention so that the digestive tract is free of food debris. On the other hand, if it is performed through the anus, the preparation is longer: the patient will have to clean the intestine with laxatives and strong enemas, in addition to fasting for 8 hours before the treatment.
Post-procedure care
After a therapeutic endoscopy the patient can go home, but in some cases it may be necessary to stay in hospital for 24 hours for observation. After the procedure, the patient may experience abdominal pain due to air trapped in the intestines, which will disappear within a few hours. Therapeutic endoscopy is a simple and uncomplicated treatment.
Alternatives to this treatment
Alternatives to therapeutic endoscopy will vary depending on the disorder being treated. Alternatives are not the same for colon cancer as for chronic gastritis, but both can be treated with therapeutic endoscopy.