Principles of Endoscopy Flashcards
Diagnostic Endoscopy
- Minimally invasive technique for diagnosis and treatment of a variety of conditions
- Allows vet to look within an organ or body cavity
- Allows for obtaining diagnostic samples from a specific region
Therapeutic Endoscopy
- A means of enabling a therapeutic prodecure
Example of diagnostic endoscopy
Airway fluid sampling - Bronchoalveolar lavage
Tissue biopsies
Example of therapeutic endoscopy
Removal of foreign body from oesophagus, airway or stomach
Types of scopes
Rigid
Flexible
What are the light source options for scopes?
Xenon
Metal halide
LED
What other equipment does endoscopy require?
- Air insufflation and water irrigation system
- Suction to allow aspiration of air and fluids
- Video monitor screen +/- image capture system
- Instruments of an appropriate size for scope channel
- Leak testing systems
- Cleaning equipment
Examples of extra instruments for scoping
○ Biopsy forceps
○ Foreign body retrieval forceps or baskets
○ Cytology brushes
○ Cytology brushes
○ Bronchoalveolar lavage catheters
Examples of when to use endoscopy in small animals
Gastrointestinal signs
Respiratory signs
Urinary signs
Gastrointestinal signs for using endoscopy
○ Suspicion of oesophageal disease where megaoesophagus has already been ruled out with radiography
○ Acute vomiting due to a gastric foreign body
○ Suspected severe gastric ulceration
○ Chronic GI signs:
Vomiting/haematemesis
Chronic diarrhoea (SI or LI?)
Melaena
Weight loss
Respiratory signs for using endoscopy
○ Chronic cough where foreign body is suspected
○ Airway fluid sampling
Urinary signs for using endoscopy
Lower urinary tract signs:
Dysuria
Haematuria
Incontinence
Tips for GI Endoscopy:
- Rule out other causes that would not require endoscopy to reach a diagnosis before you scope
- Unless a very obvious gastric lesion is found, always scope the duodenum/SI as well as the stomach
- Always collect biopsies from multiple sites- abnormal GI tract might look normal
Tips for Bronchoscopy:
- Always perform diagnostic imaging first (radiography or CT)
- Consider the possible risks as well as benefits especially in cats where the airway is small!
- “First do no harm”
Tips for urethroscopy/cystoscopy
- Always perform urinalysis and diagnostic imaging first
○ Radiography
○ Ultrasound
○ Contrast studies - Consider whether anatomy is best suited for rigid scope (females) or flexible scope (males)
