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Esophagoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a lighted tube to examine the esophagus for physical abnormalities. It is performed on patients with chronic swallowing difficulties, throat trauma, acid reflux, or suspected esophageal cancer. The procedure can be done through the mouth or nose and can detect infections, acid erosion, ruptures, and tumors. After the procedure, patients may need medication, a specialized diet, or surgery.
Esophagoscopy is a diagnostic procedure used to check for physical abnormalities in the esophagus, the structure in the throat that carries food to the stomach. A specialist performs the procedure by inserting a lighted tube called an esophagoscope down your throat that produces magnified pictures of the tissue lining. Patients who have chronic swallowing difficulties, throat trauma, acid reflux, or suspected esophageal cancer may be candidates for esophagoscopy. The procedure can usually be done in a few minutes in a doctor’s office or doctor’s office.
Doctors commonly arrange esophagoscopies after physical exams and other noninvasive tests suggest that there may be physical problems with the throat. Before the procedure, the patient is usually asked to avoid food and liquids for several hours to make sure the stomach is empty. An oral medication may be given to dry out the mouth and throat.
The esophagoscope can be inserted through the mouth or through one nostril. The oral route typically requires the administration of a local anesthetic and sedative to relieve pain and reduce the chances of choking or vomiting. When esophagoscopy is performed through the nose, a small dose of local anesthetic is usually sufficient to prevent such complications.
Once the esophagoscope is in place, the doctor peers through the end to visualize the tissues in the throat. He may be looking for signs of infection, damage from acid erosion, or ruptures caused by food getting lodged in the esophagus. Even benign or malignant tumors can be discovered during esophagoscopy. If a suspicious tumor is found, a tissue scraping may be taken with the esophagoscope so that it can later be analyzed in a hospital laboratory.
After the procedure, the esophagoscope is removed and the patient is monitored as they recover from anesthesia. There are slight risks of esophagoscopy-related complications, including bleeding, accidental tears, and infection. Patients can usually go home the same day as the exams, provided there are no complications.
The results are usually made available a few days after the procedure. After explaining any problems discovered, the doctor can suggest different treatment options. Depending on the specific abnormality, a patient may need to take medications, maintain a specialized diet, or undergo surgery. One or more additional esophagoscopy exams may be needed after a person completes a treatment plan to ensure it has been successful.
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