Digestive endoscopy, how it is performed and for whom it is indicated

Digestive endoscopy allows one to check for any lesions or alterations and, at the same time, to proceed with small operations. They range from the removal of polyps to the arrest of digestive bleeding, up to biopsies and palliation of advanced tumors. In most cases, however, digestive endoscopy is used to study symptoms such as:

• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Vomit
• Diarrhea
• Unexplained weight loss
• Blood in the stool
• Emission of blood with vomiting

Digestive endoscopy is a key diagnostic tool for being able to study various types of gastroenterological diseases. It is possible to identify benign diseases, as well as to prevent, control and treat malignant ones.

Looking at the oncology field, this tool has as its main objective the early diagnosis. This leads to the removal of pre-neoplastic changes, or lesions that could turn into tumors.
There are several ways in which digestive endoscopy can be a key tool. A clear example is given by the treatment of obesity. It is in fact possible to place an intra-gastric balloon endoscopically, and in this way making the patient perceive a sensation of premature satiety. This is one of the most important therapies used before bariatric surgery.