What is the difference between enteroscopy and endoscopy

Other instruments can be passed through the endoscope to directly treat many abnormalities with little or no discomfort. For example, the doctor may stretch a narrow area a stricture , detect Barrett's esophagus a possibly precancerous alteration in the esophageal lining , detect and biopsy gastrointestinal cancers, remove polyps usually benign growths , treat bleeding with standard cautery or the newer argon plasma coagulation method , and detect and treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD.

Enteroscopy includes several types of procedures that allow a physician to look further into the small bowel which is up to 20 feet long than is possible with other methods mentioned here.

A physician may use a longer conventional endoscope, a double-balloon endoscope or a capsule endoscope. Enteroscopy is primarily used to find the source of intestinal bleeding, but can also be used to find lesions and determine causes for nutritional malabsorption. An extended version of the conventional endoscope, called a "push endoscope,"may be employed to study the upper part of the small intestine down to about 40 inches beyond the stomach.

While more of the small bowel is accessible with this type of endoscopy than with EGD, it is able to visualize only a limited portion of the small bowel. The same techniques for therapy used during EGDs are possible during push enteroscopy.

Capsule endoscopy uses a swallowable capsule containing tiny video cameras. The capsule, about the size of a large vitamin pill, contains a light source, batteries, a radio transmitter and an antenna. The capsule transmits the images to a recording device worn around the patient's waist. When complete, the recording is downloaded to a computer which displays it on a screen.

The capsule is disposable and usually takes eight hours to move through the digestive system, after which it is passed harmlessly in a bowel movement. Capsule endoscopy does not require sedation and is painless. Capsule endoscopy can be used to diagnose hidden GI bleeding, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, and other malabsorption problems, tumors benign and malignant , vascular malformations, medication injury, and to a lesser extent, esophageal disease.

Currently, capsule endoscopy cannot be used to biopsy or treat any conditions. See also the media backgrounder on capsule endoscopy. Double-balloon enteroscopy uses a basic endoscope for viewing the inside of the entire small bowel, but that endoscope travels inside another tube which is pulled along the inside of the small bowel or colon by alternately inflating and deflating two small balloons against the inside of the intestinal wall.

This allows the scope to travel further, give stable images, perform biopsies, remove polyps, and perform other therapies. This procedure is done under sedation to assure patient comfort. A similar method using a single-balloon device has been recently developed. These procedures can be performed with or without the assistance of an X-ray machine fluoroscopy.

See also the media backgrounder on balloon-assisted enteroscopy. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP is a specialized technique used to study and treat problems of the liver, pancreas and, on occasion, the gallbladder. ERCP is performed under sedation. Small Bowel Enteroscopy A small bowel enteroscopy is a test performed to evaluate gastrointestinal bleeding, small bowel tumors, polyps, or other small bowel diseases.

Preparation for the Exam The preparation for this exam is relatively simple. Risks of Small Bowel Enteroscopy Small bowel enteroscopy is safe and associated with very low risk. Follow twitterapi. Arizona Digestive Health now offers Telemedicine Visits. Trouble Viewing Our Site? Medical website design by www. CE identified positive findings in the area explored by DBE in eight patients The overall diagnostic yield in the area explored by DBE did not differ between the two procedures.

The enteroscopic findings in the area explored by DBE were concordant in 12 of 13 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding of obscure origin. An enteroscopy is a type of endoscopy, which is an invasive test. However, the medical team will do everything possible to make the test as comfortable as possible. Always remember to tell the nurses and physicians about any other conditions and medications.

You will need the day free, so take off from work or school, but the next day most people are well enough to go back to their activities. An enteroscopy is a very safe test and there are few complications.

However, anything out the ordinary that happens after the test, such as severe pain or bleeding, is reason to seek medical attention right away. Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. American Society for Gastrointestinal Enteroscopy. Upper GI Endoscopy. American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Understanding Upper Endoscopy. Gastrointest Endosc. Levy I, Gralnek IM. Complications of diagnostic colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, and enteroscopy. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

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