Colonoscopy
The procedure is used to diagnose the causes of unexplained changes in bowel habits. It is also used to look for early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum. Colonoscopy enables the physician to see inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, ulcers, bleeding, and muscle spasms. 
For this traditional procedure, you will lie on your left side on the examining table. You will probably be given pain medication to keep you comfortable. The physician will insert a long, flexible, lighted tube into your rectum and slowly guide it into your colon. The tube is called a colonoscope. The scope transmits an image of the inside of the colon, so the physician can carefully examine the lining of the colon. The scope bends, so the physician can move it around the curves of your colon. You may be asked to change position occasionally to help the physician move the scope. The scope also blows air into your colon, which inflates the colon and helps the physician see better.
If anything unusual is in your colon, like a polyp or inflamed tissue, the physician can remove a piece of it using tiny instruments passed through the scope. That tissue (biopsy) is then sent to a lab for testing. If there is bleeding in the colon, the physician can pass a laser, heater probe, or electrical probe, or inject special medicines, through the scope and use it to stop the bleeding.
Bleeding and perforation of the colon are possible complications of colonoscopy. However, such complications are uncommon. For preperation instructions, click here.
Virtual Colonoscopy
Virtual Colonoscopy(or CT colonography) is a rapid CT examination of the abdomen to examine the air-filled colon for masses or polyps. It offers the advantages of less invasiveness, no sedation, and incidental imaging of the other abdominal organs. Despite its many advantages, virtual colonoscopy still requires a cathartic colon prep, and is not able to remove polyps or biopsy abnormalities. In addition, it is not yet accepted as an option for screening for colorectal cancer outside of clinical trials.
Capsule Endoscopy
 Capsule Endoscopy lets your doctor examine the lining of the middle part of your gastrointestinal tract, which includes the three portions of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum). Your doctor will use a pill sized video capsule called an endoscope, which has its own lens and light source and will view the images on a video monitor. You might hear your doctor or other medical staff refer to capsule endoscopy as small bowel endoscopy, capsule enteroscopy, or wireless endoscopy.
Capsule endoscopy helps your doctor evaluate the small intestine. This part of the bowel cannot be reached by traditional upper endoscopy or by colonoscopy. The most common reason for doing capsule endoscopy is to search for a cause of bleeding from the small intestine. It may also be useful for detecting polyps, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease), ulcers, and tumors of the small intestine.
See Picture at right:
- Optical Dome
- Lens holder
- Lens
- Illuminating LEDs (Light Emitting Diode)
- CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) Imager
- Battery
- ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) transmitter
- Antenna
Upper Endoscopy
An Upper GI endoscopy or EGD (esophagoastoduodenoscopy) is an examination of the lining of the upper digestive tract through a flexible tube (endoscope). This allows a specially trained physician to directly view the esophagus (food tube), stomach and duodenum (first portion of the small intestine) and identify any problems. (For prep instructions, click here.)
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Test (ERCP)
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) enables the physician to diagnose problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. The liver is a large organ that, among other things, makes a liquid called bile that helps with digestion. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ that stores bile until it is needed for digestion. The bile ducts are tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine. These ducts are sometimes called the biliary tree. The pancreas is a large gland that produces chemicals that help with digestion.
ERCP may be used to discover the reason for jaundice, upper abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss. ERCP combines the use of x-rays and an endoscope, which is a long, flexible, lighted tube. Through it, the physician can see the inside of the stomach, duodenum, and ducts in the biliary tree and pancreas.
Liver Biposy
Liver biopsy is the only certain way to confirm certain types of liver disease. Liver biopsy requires taking a small amount of tissue from the liver. The physician may use ultrasound, CAT scan or a laparoscope to look at the liver and find the best places from which to remove tissue samples. The samples are then sent to a pathology lab, where they are analyzed and a diagnosis can be made. Liver biopsy is often performed as an outpatient procedure.
Transit Study
 This is the most helpful test to find the cause of constipation. This test measures how long it takes food residues to travel through the gut. This is done by having you swallow tiny soft rubber rings in a capsule about 1/2 inch across and then taking an x-ray 5 days later to see how many of the rings are left.
In the illustration of the lower intestines at your right, (1) indicates Sitzmarks showing the movement of the contents of your intestines, and (2) shows the location of your rectum. |
This procedure enables the physician to look at the inside of the large intestine from the rectum through the lower part of the colon, called the sigmoid colon. Physicians may use this procedure to find the cause of diarrhea, abdominal pain, or constipation. They also use sigmoidoscopy to look for early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum. With sigmoidoscopy, the physician can see bleeding, inflammation, abnormal growths, and ulcers. 