Endoscopy (upper GI)
Upper Endoscopy is when the doctor uses a flexible tube with a camera and light to look at the throat, stomach and upper intestine to see what is causing stomach pain, diarrhea or other problems.The doctor may take very small tissue samples, the size of a pinhead.
There are many reasons why children may need an Upper Endoscopy including :
Before the test, on the morning of the test, the child should not eat or drink anything because this can cause problems with the sleep medicine administered before the test. After the test, your doctor may have pictures to show. At the same time, he or she can tell the family if there are any medicines the patient should take. Once the patient is drinking well, they can start eating again and go home.
After the test, if the patient has any of these symptoms, call their doctor :
Endoscopy (Lower GI) : Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is a procedure used to see the inside of the colon (the large intestine and the last part of your digestive system) and rectum. A colonoscopy can detect inflamed tissue, ulcers, and abnormal growths. Colonoscopy enables your doctor to examine the lining of your colon (large intestine) for abnormalities by inserting a flexible tube as thick as your finger into your anus and slowly advancing it into the rectum and colon. The procedure itself usually takes 15 to 60 minutes, although you should plan on two to three hours for waiting, preparation and recovery.The preparation consists of either consuming a large volume of a special cleansing solution or clear liquids and special oral laxatives. The colon must be completely clean for the procedure to be accurate and complete, so be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully Patient is given to drink Peglac water for nearly 24 hrs prior to colonoscopy to flush the colon from fecal matter which allows better visualization. A laxative or an enema may be suggested to aid in clean out.