Home Medication and medical testsVarious medical tests Enteroscopy: what it is and how to prepare

Enteroscopy: what it is and how to prepare

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

The enteroscopy is a procedure whereby the inside of the small intestine was examined through an endoscope known as enteroscope. This instrument is capable of providing information from the small intestine and has evolved over time, presenting some improvements that we will explain below. The performance of this medical examination can pursue different objectives, such as extracting a tissue sample or visualizing the presence of abnormal structures in the wall of the intestine, allowing a diagnosis to be made. In this FastlyHealarticle we explain what an enteroscopy is and how to prepare .

What is an enteroscopy

Different types of enteroscopy are now available that allow you to examine the inside of the small intestine. The most modern is known as double balloon enteroscopy . It is a new endoscope that has meant the possibility of diagnosing conditions that until then were only detectable by surgery. This endoscope advances through the small intestine, inflating and deflating the two balloons that it has incorporated, providing greater efficiency in the diagnosis of some ailments.

Another way to examine the small intestine is capsule endoscopy . It is a small device that is swallowed, capturing images of the digestive tract throughout its journey. It is widely used to study the pathologies of the small intestine.

What is an enteroscopy for?

Double balloon enteroscopy can be used as a complement to capsule endoscopy, although it is also used as an alternative to it. Double balloon enteroscopy can diagnose diseases of the small intestine that are difficult to detect before they exist. This test is usually done to identify

  • Possible tumors in the small intestine.
  • Study chronic diarrhea.
  • Unexplained digestive bleeding.
  • Abnormal X-ray results.
  • Suspicion of inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn’s disease.
  • Detect polyps.

How to prepare for an enteroscopy

Preparation for an enteroscopy will depend on whether the test is performed through the oral cavity or rectally, although it does not require major complications.

Oral enteroscopy

In the event that the enteroscopy is performed orally, you only need to fast for eight hours before the intervention. However, we must pay attention to any indication by the specialist.

Rectal enteroscopy

In this case, a diet must be carried out in addition to ingesting a preparation to eliminate the stool in order that the enteroscope can correctly reach the small intestine. The specialist will indicate if it is necessary to eliminate any medication before performing the test. Therefore, it is important to inform about the medications that are being taken, allergic reactions, or other medical information of interest.

Frequent questions

How long does the enteroscopy take?

Enteroscopy involves examining the entire small intestine, so it can take up to two hours , depending on the part of the intestine that you want to examine.

Does it cause any discomfort?

Due to its duration, enteroscopy is carried out by sedation , so that it is not uncomfortable for the patient. When the test is performed orally, the patient is usually intubated to allow breathing. It is likely that after the intervention, the patient will feel some discomfort derived from the air accumulated in the digestive tract, but it disappears in a few hours.

Does it involve any complications?

Although enteroscopy is usually uncomplicated, some of these conditions are likely to occur:

  • Excessive bleeding in the event that a sample is drawn.
  • Perforation in the intestine
  • Possibility of infection where tissue extraction is performed in the case of biopsy.
  • Vomiting

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Enteroscopy: what it is and how to prepare , we recommend that you enter our category of Medication and medical tests .

You may also like

Leave a Comment