Endoscopy: A tool for preventing and treating digestive diseases

Endoscopy serves as a vital tool for both the prevention and treatment of gastroenterological diseases. The primary techniques used are gastroscopy, which examines the upper digestive tract including the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, and colonoscopy, which examines the large intestine and the final part of the small intestine.

According to Dr. Konstantinos Delis, a Gastroenterology Director at Metropolitan Hospital and lecturer at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, these procedures are typically performed under full sedation to ensure patient comfort and medical efficiency.

Endoscopies are utilized for two main purposes: diagnostic and therapeutic. Diagnostic procedures aim for the early detection of lesions, potential malignant tumors, and benign conditions like stomach or duodenal ulcers that could lead to life-threatening bleeding. Therapeutic endoscopies are interventions used to treat underlying conditions, such as managing gastrointestinal bleeding or removing colon polyps.