By Kelsey Matthews

Purpose

Diagnostics- take images, samples, biopsiesDiagnosis of conditions like stomach ulcers,

irritable bowel syndrome, internal bleeding and cancer.

Surgery- simple surgeries and cuts inside the body

Early History

1806- long rigid tube, light on the end to illuminate a body cavity or organ

1945- brighter light to add enough visibility for image documentation

1960s- fiber optics introduced, images transmitted, more flexible, steerable end

1986- the magnification and projection of images onto television screens

Current State of Art

a long, flexible tube, a fiber optic light a camera lens another channel that can be used for

other medical instruments if necessary

State of art cont.

Entrance: anus, the throat, the urethra, or a small incision in the skin

15-60 minutes long Outpatient procedure

Advantages

Short recovery time, little to no post-op pain

More precision for surgeon Little blood, no need for stitches

Disadvantages

Slight chance for perforations and other damage to organs

Possibility of infection at sight of incision or along path of endoscope

Future

Disposable endoscope Capsule endoscope 3D endoscopy for imaging and

measurements

Bibliography The Better Health Channel

<www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/BHCV2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Endoscopy?open>.

Wikipedia: Endoscopy <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endoscopy>.

Medical News Today <http://www.medical newstoday.com/articles/153737.php> Roberts-Thomson IC, Singh R, Teo E, Nguyen NQ,

Lidums I. The future of endoscopy. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010

Hart R, Classen M. Complications of diagnostic gastrointestinal endoscopy. PubMed. 1990, 22(5):229-233