Since the development of modern medicine, doctors and health care professionals have always tried to come up with minimally invasive procedures for both diagnostic purposes as well as surgery. Endoscopy was developed to see inside a human body without the need for large incisions or surgery.

What is Endoscopy?
Endoscopy is a type of procedure wherein the doctor inserts a long thin tube into the body through an opening such as the mouth, anus or the urethra. Sometimes small incisions may be made on your body to insert the tube as well. The tube which is inserted within the body is fitted with a camera which allows the doctor to see what is wrong within your body, a specific section or organ. Doctors can even take images or videos of your organs which help them to determine a due course of action in your treatment. Endoscopy may also be used as a part of a laparoscopic operation to correct problems within the body, especially in cases wherein tissues have to be removed.

Types of endoscopy and its uses-
Although endoscopy could be used in any part of the body, there are certain areas where they are used more commonly than the others. Some of the types or endoscopies are mentioned below:

Colonoscopy   Used to examine your colon wherein the scope is inserted through your anus
Laparoscopy   This is one of the most common forms of diagnosis as well as surgery wherein the tube may be inserted through a small area in your abdomen or the pelvic area. This is not only used for imaging or diagnosis but is used in surgery as well.
Arthroscopy   Here, an incision is made on the joints of your body to check for problems
Cystoscopy   In this type, the tube is inserted through the urethral opening to check for problems in the urinary tract or the bladder. Another variation of this would be ureteroscopy.
Enteroscopy   This is an endoscopic examination of the intestines wherein the tube is inserted via the anus or the mouth.
Hysteroscopy   Here, examination of the uterus and the female reproductive organ is carried out wherein the endoscope is inserted into the vagina.
Bronchoscopy   It entails an examination of the lungs wherein the scope may be inserted through the nose or mouth to check the lungs
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy - This is used for the examination of the esophagus and the upper intestinal tract.
Risks and safety-
Endoscopy is a widely performed and very reliable procedure. In the hands of a skilled doctor, endoscopy will be able to determine the cause of the problem and also correct the issues if surgery is also performed along with it. However, like any procedure, it does carry certain risks although the chances are fairly low. Some of the risks are mentioned as follows  

Perforation or other injuries to your organs such as scraping or bruising
Fever due to the introduction of foreign materials
Persisting pain in the specific area wherein endoscopy was performed
Swelling of the area wherein the tube was inserted
Infections after the procedure
Bleeding at the site of the incision or entry of the tube
However, these cases are rare and only occur in a very small section of the cases. Although there is minimal pain associated with the procedure, the benefits far outweigh the risks and inconveniences.

8 Types Of Endoscopies & For What They Are Used For!

When you experience a pain on the side and back just below the ribs that at times radiates to the lower abdomen and is fluctuating in intensity, it is quite unlikely for you to think that the reason could be a kidney stone. One of the early symptoms of kidney stone, when you experience such pain, you must seek medical advice. However, there is no need to panic as it is completely curable. Read on to understand more about this condition.

What is urinary bladder stone?
Vesical calculus, which is more commonly referred to as bladder stones, are formed due to a buildup of minerals. It may occur when the bladder is not entirely emptied after urinating. In the course of time, the residual urine becomes concentrated, and the minerals start forming crystals. When the stones are in a miniature state, they can easily pass out, but at times, when they are quite big, they may get stuck in the walls of the urinary tract and cause severe pain and discomfort.

What are the causes of urinary bladder stones?
Bladder stones start growing when the urine is left in the bladder for a long span of time. This may happen due to some underlying medical condition which can prevent the bladder from completely emptying. Conditions which are responsible for causing stones in the urinary tract are as follows

Enlargement of the prostate: When the prostate is enlarged, it may exert pressure on the urethra and disrupt the flow. It leads to retention of urine and creates an ideal environment for the formation of stones.
Diverticula and enlargement of bladder: Sometimes, pouches form within the bladder, and when they become too large, they can retain urine and prevent the bladder from being emptied completely.
Usage of medical devices: Bladder stones may form when an individual uses catheters or other medical devices.
Inflammation of the bladder: Radiation therapy or infection in the urinary tract that causes inflammation or enlargement of the bladder can lead to the formation of stones. Also, if a person has kidney stones, they can come down to the ureters, and in case they become too large to pass, they would stay in the bladder and cause substantial obstruction. Kidney stones are more common than stones in the urinary bladder.
How are kidney stones treated?
Specific lifestyle changes such as drinking enough liquids, taking calcium supplements, limiting the amount of caffeine and alcohol and reducing body weight are some of the simplest yet effective means of treating urinary stones at earlier stages.

Use of specific medicines can also reduce the calcium and uric acid stones by controlling the amount of alkali or acid in the urine. These medications reduce the amount of calcium released by the kidneys so that they can be retained in the bone. If these treatment options do not work, you must consider undergoing surgical intervention.

Stones In Urinary Tract - 4 Particular Reasons Behind It!

Sometimes, when it comes to problems in the abdominal area, an ultrasound is not clear enough for a diagnosis. In such cases, an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) may be performed. This procedure gives the doctor a clear view of the duodenum, bile duct, pancreatic ducts, gallbladder and papilla of Vater.

This procedure is usually performed under intravenous sedation without general anesthesia. This procedure involves the use of a duodenoscope, which can be described as a thin, long, flexible tube with a camera at one end. It also has a fiber optic bundle that transmits lights to the camera and a chip to transmit video images to a TV screen.

This is inserted through the patient s mouth and sent down the throat through the food pipe to the stomach and duodenum while the patient is lying on his or her back. The air pipe is left undisturbed so as to not interfere with the patient s breathing. Since the patient is not under general anesthesia, he or she can move and turn according to the doctor s needs. The papilla of Vater is a small nipple like structure with an opening to the bile duct and pancreatic duct. Once this has been identified, a small plastic catheter is passed through the duodenoscope into the bile duct or pancreatic duct through the papilla. Dye is then injected into the area and X-rays are taken of the bile ducts and pancreatic duct. In cases where a biopsy is needed, other instruments can also be passed through the endoscope. Plastic or metal stents can also be passed through this to relieve obstructions in the bile ducts and pancreatic ducts.

ERCP can be used to diagnose and treat a number of conditions in the liver, bile ducts, gall bladder, pancreas and papilla of Vater. These include:

  Blockage of the bile duct by gallstones, cancer, scars, tumors or compression from adjacent organs.

  Jaundice due to an obstructed bile duct. This can also cause light stools and dark urine.

  Persistent upper abdominal pain

  Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite

  Diagnosing a Dysfunctioning Sphincter of Oddi within the Papilla of Vater

ERCP can also be used to confirm pancreatic cancer and cancer of the bile duct. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctors can customize treatment according to the patient s needs.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography - Procedure and Results

Gallstones are solid deposits/stones of digestive fluids that form in the gall bladder. The size of these stones varies from person to person. While some people may develop only one stone in the bladder, others may develop multiple gallstones simultaneously.

Signs you must watch out for-

Abdominal pain
Pain in the back or between the shoulder blades
Vomiting and nausea
Heartburn
Bloating and indigestion
Change in bowel movement
Dark urine
Fever and chills
Rapid heartbeat
Yellowish skin and pale eyes (Jaundice)
These are the most common symptoms that a person with gallstones encounters. One should consult the doctor right away upon experiencing these symptoms. If ignored for long, these signs can aggravate and lead to further complications.

Complications that may arise from gallstones-
There are quite a few complications of gallstones, including the following-

Cholecystitis- when gallstones become stuck at the neck of the gallbladder, it causes inflammation.
Obstruction in the pancreatic duct- a gallstone blocking the pancreatic duct can cause pancreatitis followed by intense abdominal pain.
Blockage in the bile duct- if the gallstones create a blockage in your bile duct, the outcome may be an infection or jaundice.
Gallbladder cancer- people, who have a history of gallstones, are more likely to develop gallbladder cancer.
Treatment of Gallstones-
Gallstones can certainly be treated, if diagnosed early in time. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may perform a CT scan, X-ray, Ultrasound or an ERCP. Once the condition is diagnosed, your doctor will recommend a surgery to remove the stones in the gallbladder (known as Cholecystectomy). The preferred choice of surgery includes the following-

Laparoscopic removal- In most of the cases, the doctor adopts this minimally invasive approach to remove gallstones. First, he makes a small incision in the abdomen. He will then insert a tube-like instrument with an attached camera into the gallbladder to have a clear sight of the gallstones, and surgically remove them from the gallbladder.
Open surgery- This is performed under general anesthesia. During this procedure, a single, long incision of roughly 3-6 inches is made on the upper side of your right abdomen. The tissues and muscles are pulled back to divulge the gallbladder. The gallstones are then removed, and the incision stitched up. Open surgery is performed when laparoscopic surgery is not suitable for the patient.
Gallstones cannot be managed with just diet and medications. A surgery is usually needed to remove the stones and cure the patient. For Laparoscopic surgery, the rate of success is nearly over 95%. Identify the symptoms before it aggravates, and consult a doctor for treatment.

Gall Stones - Is Surgery The Only Treatment?

Gall bladder stones can be painful. Until and unless it is surgically removed and cured from within, the pain continues to hinder daily life. The good news is that there are ways by which pain from gall bladder stones could be managed. 

Here is a list of quick, easy-to-follow remedies to counter the pain.

Heat Pack: Applying a heat pack or hot water bottle on to the stomach making sure that the heat is directly passed on to the gall bladder can give instant relief from the pain. The heat should be applied at an interval of half an hour and a layer of cloth should be placed in between the skin and the heat pack.
Over the counter medicine: In most cases, over the counter pain relief meds can make the pain go away. NSAIDs should be avoided until and unless suggested by the doctor. A pain relief medicine with anti-inflammatory properties will perfectly suit the gall bladder condition.
Try vegetable juice: While gulping vegetable juice might sound a little indifferent, it has instant benefits with no side effect. All it needs is to mix beetroot, cucumber, and carrot in equal proportions and extract the juice from it. The juice extracted from this mixture should be consumed twice in a week to flush out the toxins from the system and ease the gall bladder pain.
Citrus fruits: Citrus fruits such as lemon, orange etc. contains pectin that is believed to be a remover of stones and blockages. This is also believed to be a great agent for countering pain originating from the gall bladder. Consumption of 10-12 tablespoon of lemon juice extracted from fresh lemons followed by a glass of water will wither the pain away in few weeks.
A mixture of honey and turmeric: Honey s antiseptic nature prevents infection and the curcumin found in turmeric makes the bile more soluble in the gall bladder. These two herbs in tandem can ease the gall bladder pain and get relief from the stones too. A tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of turmeric should be consumed daily to get the benefits.
Take the herbal route: There are several herbals that are believed to be extremely effective in treating pain origination from the gall bladder. Some of them include goldenseal, quebrapedra, catnip, fennel seed, yellow dock, rosemary, nettle, peppermint herbal tea etc.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is acidic in nature and consumption of a quarter of a glass followed by a quarter of a glass of apple juice can show instant results. It should be consumed daily after breakfast. There are instances where the pain eases out within a matter of 15 minutes.

Gall Bladder Stone Pain - Tips To Help You Manage It!

The gall bladder is a very small organ located behind the liver. This organ stores the bile created by the liver and releases it whenever needed. We rarely pay attention to this organ until there is a problem and most gallbladder related problems are very painful. Unknowingly you may be harming your gall bladder by eating certain types of food like red meats and saturated fats. On the other hand, eating some types of food can improve your gall bladder health. Some such foods are:

Fiber-rich foods: Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of fiber and a must in a balanced diet. Fiber helps keep the gall bladder healthy and also helps prevent gallstones from developing. An easy way to add more fibre to your diet is to incorporate a salad with your lunch and dinner.
Water: Water not only helps hydrate the body but also helps maintain the water levels required in bile. Ideally, a person should drink 8 glasses of water a day. This should not all be drunk at one time but should be spaced out through the day. Drinking too much water at one time will result in the body expelling it in the form of urine instead of absorbing it.
Foods rich in Pectin: Pectin is a dietary fiber that binds cholesterol in the stomach and helps in its removal from the body. Since cholesterol is one of the major causes for gall stones, eating pectin-rich foods helps reduce the risk of gallstones. Some foods that are rich in pectin include citrus fruits, strawberries and apples.
Flaxseeds: Eating just one tablespoon of flax seeds a day can boost your health in a number of ways. One of the many benefits of including flaxseeds in your diet is a healthy gall bladder. Flax seeds contain mucilaginous fiber or fiber that forms a gel. This type of fiber aids in the liver s synthesis of bile acids and thus keeps the gall bladder healthy.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Not all fats are bad for the body. Omega three fatty acids play an important role in producing anti-inflammatory compounds. Some rich sources of omega 3 fatty acids include olive oil, avocados and flax seeds.
Citrus fruits: Citrus fruits are very rich in vitamins like vitamin C. a deficiency of this particular vitamin can cause gall stones. For this reason, eat plenty of citrus fruits and other fruits and vegetables such as bell peppers and broccoli that are rich in vitamin C. 

Gallbladder Health - Foods that Can Help maintain it!

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