Endoscopy has gained an important place in the investigation of digestive disorders thanks to the use of a video endoscope employing fibre optics. This provides high quality images of the internal organs.
The examinations most frequently undertaken are the gastroscopy and colonoscopy. At the Clinique Générale-Beaulieu endoscopies can be performed under general anaesthetic. But in most cases they are carried out under slight sedation. The examination takes place in the Endoscopic Rooms of the gastroenterologists affiliated to the Clinic. Only the strictest standards of hygiene apply.
Gastroscopy is prescribed in the diagnosis of diseases of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum such as reflux oesophagitis, hiatus hernia, gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcers and cancers.
Colonoscopy is prescribed essentially for the diagnosis of polyps and colon cancers, chronic, inflammatory diseases of the intestine, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Endoscopy allows biopsies to be taken from the tissues for subsequent analysis in the Pathology Labs as well as the removal of polyps (polypectomy) by electrocoagulation.
Other gastroenterological investigations less frequently prescribed, include liver biopsy, retrograde cholangiography and enteroscopy. All of these examinations provide great precision in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases.
