Endoscopy (mirroring)

In order to enable the detection of disease triggers and an associated diagnosis, medical technology procedures such as the Endoscopy, helpful so that doctors can see inside the body. This technique also enables targeted differential diagnosis.

What is endoscopy?

The Endoscopy is a complex application that is suitable for depicting body spaces and hollow organs from within. Due to the variable equipment of the devices, tissue can be removed with the help of endoscopy. Medical technology in endoscopy is based on a special device, a so-called endoscope.

Behind the exact term endoscopy is a method that is suitable for mirroring internal areas of organs. In particular, organs and organ systems that are otherwise difficult to access from the outside and without surgical intervention can be examined with an endoscopy. Under these conditions, the doctors treated can also carry out so-called minimally invasive surgical interventions.

Function, effect, application & goals

For use in the Endoscopy different types of endoscopes come. Both rigid and movable devices combined with video technology are used.

In medicine, endoscopy is used when it comes to examinations of the difficult-to-access respiratory system and the middle layer. Further applications of endoscopy are assessments of the entire gastrointestinal tract, the joints, the urinary bladder and the urinary drainage systems as well as the eye. Endoscopy has also proven its worth when examining the ear, nose and throat, as well as mirroring the female reproductive organs, the chest and the abdominal cavity.

Various optical elements represent the functional basis of endoscopy. In endoscopy, an artificial light source generates the required lighting and is guided into the body cavities through a special cold light guide. Cold light is preferred because normal light in endoscopy would cause burns on the sensitive tissue structures.

The attending physician looks at the hollow organ through another lens. An image-transmitting system is integrated between the two objects. In endoscopy, all individual segments are located in a special tube that can be inserted into the organs to be examined. The imaging components are nowadays equipped in such a way that camera work can be guaranteed in all directions. For this purpose, the high-quality panoramic prisms are processed in endoscopy.

The effects that can be achieved by means of endoscopy are based on suitable light sources and the appropriately designed light and image guide. In addition, various lenses and technical aids such as small scalpels can be attached to the endoscope. These are operated from the outside of the body. For this reason, in the context of endoscopy, extremely precise and complicated surgical methods can be carried out without cutting the body open from the outside.

Further developments of the devices in endoscopy are therefore used in brain diagnostics and anesthesia-free examination under certain conditions. At present, endoscopy is predominantly carried out in conjunction with computer-assisted imaging procedures. In addition, the zoom and chromo endoscopy are suitable for color display and for high-resolution, extremely detailed images.

Risks & dangers

When performing the Endoscopy professional monitoring and control are absolutely necessary. In addition, during endoscopy it can be essential that immobilization is carried out as part of a targeted sedation. The side effects that occur during an endoscopy always depend on the type of endoscope and the particular examination.

The risks with an endoscopy are rather low. Endoscopy has significantly reduced the psychological and physical strain on the patient. In addition, those affected benefit from the significantly shorter stay in the clinic. In this context, endoscopy is even an examination variant that can certainly be carried out on an outpatient basis. If surgical treatments can be performed through endoscopy rather than laparoscopy, the beneficial effects for the patient are smaller scars and better wound healing.

Complications of endoscopy are organ punctures, internal bleeding or temporary impairment of cardiovascular function. For this reason, endoscopy is not suitable for patients who suffer from heart failure, disorders of normal blood coagulation or acute infections of the intestine.