Endoscopic Ultrasonography
Endoscopic Ultrasonography (EUS) allows your doctor to examine the walls and lining of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. The upper tract consists of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum; the lower tract includes your colon and rectum.
Endoscopic Ultrasonography is also used by researchers to study internal organs that lie near the gastrointestinal tract, such as the pancreas and gallbladder. A thin, flexible tube called an endoscope is passed through the mouth or anus to examine these areas. Your doctor will then turn on an ultrasound component to produce sound waves that creates visual images of the digestive tract.
What Is The Purpose Of Endoscopic Ultrasonography?
This procedure allows your doctor a more detailed analysis of the digestive tract anatomy. Your doctor can use it to diagnose the cause of abdominal pain or weight loss. It can also be use to diagnose diseases in the pancreas, gallbladder, and bile duct.
Why Is Endoscopic Ultrasonography Used For Patients With Cancer?
It helps doctors determine the extent of certain cancers in the respiratory and digestive systems. It allows a doctor to accurately assess how deep a cancer has spread and whether or not it has come in contact with vital bodily structures such as the blood vessels.
What Can I Expect During EUS?
The procedure will begin with you lying on your left side. Your health specialist team will administer sedatives intravenously to help you relax. The endoscopist will pass the ultrasound endoscope through your mouth, esophagus and stomach into the duodenum. The examination should take between 15 to 45 minutes and does not interfere with your ability to breathe. Most patients consider it to be only slightly uncomfortable as they typically are asleep through the exam.
An EUS on the lower gastrointestinal tract is typically performed safely and comfortably without meds, but you will probably receive a sedative if your doctor has to examine a significant amount of the colon. You will begin the procedure by lying on your left side with your back facing the doctor. Exams in this region typically last 10 to 39 minutes.
What Happens After Endoscopic Ultrasonography?
If you were administered sedatives, you will be taken to a recovery area until most of the sedative medication’s effects wear off. If you had an upper EUS exam, then your throat may feel sore. You may also feel some bloating. Your doctor can generally inform you of the results of the procedure that day, but the results of some tests may take longer.
What Are Possible Complications Of EUS?
Complications are rare. Bleeding may occur at the biopsy site, but it’s usually minial. You may also experience a sore throat for a day or more, however over-the-counter lozenges and painkillers can provide relief. Some potential, but uncommon, risks of EUS include backwashed stomach contents into the lungs, a reaction to the sedatives used, and complications of heart or lung diseases. Perforation is one major, but uncommon, complication of EUS.