Short history of
endoscopy
Reports indicate that the first endoscope was devised in
1805. It consisted of a large tube and a candle. Because it was cumbersome and
large it had very limited uses. Fiber optics, which appeared in the 1960s, was
a major factor in the endoscopy revolution. With fiber optics it really became
possible for the doctor to see and record the inside of the patient's body with
a small and relatively painless device.
What is Endoscopic
Surgery?
Endoscopic surgery uses scopes going through small incisions or natural body openings in order to diagnose and treat disease.
Endoscopic surgery uses scopes going through small incisions or natural body openings in order to diagnose and treat disease. Another popular term is minimally invasive surgery (MIS), which emphasizes that diagnosis and treatments can be done with reduced body cavity invasion.
Types of endoscopies
Here is a list of some types of endoscopies and their meanings:
- Amnioscopy - examination of the amniotic cavity and fetus.
- Arthroscopy - examination of the joints.
- Bronchoscopy - examination of the air passages and the lungs.
- Colonoscopy - examination of the colon.
- Colposcopy - examination of the cervix and the tissues of the vagina and vulva.
- Cystoscopy - examination of the urinary bladder.
- EGD (Esophageal Gastroduodenoscopy), also known as panendoscopy - examination of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum.
- ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography) - examination of the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas.
- Fetoscopy - examination of the fetus.
- Laparoscopy - a small incision to examine the abdominal cavity.
- Laryngoscopy - examination of the back of the throat, including the voice box (larynx) and vocal cords.
- Proctoscopy - examination of the rectum and the end of the colon.
- Rhinoscopy - examination of the inside of the nose.
- Thoracoscopy - examination of the lungs or other structures in the chest cavity.
