Common conditions diagnosed or treated during endoscopy include:
Your Mayo Clinic Healthcare consultant may recommend an endoscopy procedure to:
- Look for the cause of signs and symptoms.
- Diagnose a condition.
- Treat disease.
What is endoscopy?
Endoscopy involves examining and, if needed, treating your upper or lower digestive system. The most common forms use a long, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end. It's inserted through the mouth or anus and can take tissue for further testing, called a biopsy.
If you require an endoscopy at Mayo Clinic Healthcare, a nurse will discuss exactly how you should prepare depending on your needs and the type of endoscopy.
Upper GI endoscopy types
Gastroscopy, also called oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD), is a procedure that examines the inside of your oesophagus, which is the "food pipe" that connects the throat and stomach. The procedure also examines the stomach and the top part of the small intestine, called the duodenum.
During the procedure, a specialist inserts a long, thin flexible tube, called a gastroscope, into your mouth and passes it down through your oesophagus to your stomach and duodenum. The tube has a camera in its tip that sends live video to a screen. These images allow the specialist to see the inside of your upper GI tract.
A gastroscopy can help show the cause of your symptoms and allows the specialist to take tissue for biopsies if there are any concerning signs, such as polyps. The tissue is sent to the pathology lab for further study.
Catherterless oesophageal pH monitoring, including the Alpha and Bravo systems, is a test in which a small capsule is attached to the lining of your oesophagus during a gastroscopy. The capsule measures the amount of acid reflux happening in the oesophagus and wirelessly sends the information to a small recording device that is about the size of a cellphone. After placement of the capsule, you carry this recorder for 2 to 4 days.
After the study, you return the recorder to the endoscopy unit. The capsule usually detaches itself within about a week and passes out of your digestive system naturally without your noticing. Your consultant will interpret the information from the recorder and discuss next steps or a further management plan.
Lower GI endoscopy types
Colonoscopy examines the lining of the large bowel, also called the colon. It uses a long, thin, flexible tube called a colonoscope. The tube has a camera in its tip that sends live video of the inside of your colon to a screen. The tube is inserted into the anus and then advanced to the end of the large bowel.
During the procedure, the specialist can use the colonoscope to remove polyps and take tissue for further lab testing.
Colonoscopy is used for bowel cancer screening and to look for the cause of symptoms.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy also examines the lining of the large bowel. It uses a long, thin, flexible tube called a sigmoidoscope. Like a colonoscope, the tube has a camera in its tip that sends live video of the inside of your colon to a screen. The procedure is used to look for the cause of symptoms and deliver some treatments, such as banding of haemorrhoids. The tube is inserted into the anus and then advanced to the left side of your large bowel.
During the procedure, the specialist can use the sigmoidoscope to remove polyps and take tissue for lab testing.
Preparing for an endoscopy
You will need to fast for several hours before an endoscopic procedure to ensure that your stomach or bowel is empty. You also might need to stop taking certain medicines, such as blood thinners, a few days before your endoscopy. Blood thinners may increase your risk of bleeding from certain endoscopic procedures, such as biopsy or polyp removal.
Your Mayo Clinic Healthcare nurse will review your medicines with you and discuss any concerns before your procedure.
Usually, you lie on your back or on your side for an endoscopy. Care team members attach monitors to your body to monitor your breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. You are likely to receive a sedative to help you relax during the procedure.
For an upper endoscopy, before inserting the endoscope, your care team may give you a plastic mouth guard and spray an anaesthetic on the back of your mouth to numb your throat.
As the scope passes through your throat, you may feel some pressure but you likely won't feel pain.
Information for referrers
Mayo Clinic Healthcare is committed to providing timely, high-quality endoscopic services and seamless communication throughout the referral process.
Smooth, efficient referrals
The fastest path to referral is to complete the endoscopy referral form (PDF) and email it to UKMCHREFERRAL@mayo.edu.
Once we receive the form, we will acknowledge receipt within 1 to 2 working days. Our endoscopy team will validate the referral, and we will contact the patient directly to schedule the procedure and a preprocedure assessment.
Following the patient's appointment, we will promptly send you a detailed procedure report and, if applicable, histopathology results through a secure email.
For any questions regarding the referral process, contact Mayo Clinic Healthcare on +44 (0) 207 871 2575 or email UKMCHREFERRAL@mayo.edu.
We look forward to working with you to provide excellent patient care.