A Complete Guide to Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy: What to Expect and Video Resources
Modern medicine offers highly effective diagnostic tools for detecting diseases of the digestive tract. Two of the most important procedures are colonoscopy and gastroscopy. Although many patients feel anxious before undergoing these examinations, understanding how they are performed can greatly reduce fear and uncertainty. Below is a detailed explanation of both procedures, along with carefully selected video resources from YouTube that show the process step by step.
What Is a Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a medical procedure that allows doctors to examine the inside of the colon (large intestine) using a flexible tube equipped with a camera. It helps to detect polyps, inflammation, bleeding, and early signs of colorectal cancer.
How the procedure works:
- Preparation: Patients undergo a special bowel cleansing process the day before.
- Sedation: Mild anesthesia or sedation is usually provided to make the patient comfortable.
- Examination: A flexible tube (colonoscope) is gently inserted through the rectum, allowing doctors to view the colon on a monitor.
- Intervention if needed: Polyps or abnormal tissues can be removed immediately during the procedure.
- Recovery: Patients rest until the sedation wears off and can usually go home the same day.
Recommended videos on colonoscopy:
- What Really Happens During A Colonoscopy?
- Colonoscopy Procedure In English (Updated Guidelines)
- Colonoscopy: The Procedure – St Mark’s Hospital Foundation
- See What it’s Like to Get a Colonoscopy Screening
- Live Colonoscopy by Shekar Narayanan, M.D.
- Removal of a Colon Polyp (Polypectomy)
What Is a Gastroscopy?
A gastroscopy (also called an upper GI endoscopy or OGD) is used to examine the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine. A thin, flexible tube with a camera is inserted through the mouth, providing a detailed view of the upper digestive tract.
How the procedure works:
- Preparation: Patients must fast for several hours before the procedure.
- Local anesthesia: The throat is sprayed with a numbing solution, and sedation is often provided.
- Examination: The endoscope is inserted gently through the mouth and guided down the esophagus to the stomach and duodenum.
- Biopsy if needed: Small tissue samples may be taken for laboratory analysis.
- Recovery: Sedation wears off within a short time, but patients should arrange for someone to accompany them home.
Recommended videos on gastroscopy:
- Gastroscopy: What happens during the procedure – St Mark’s Hospital
- Gastroscopy | OGD | See inside the stomach!
- Having a gastroscopy in hospital
- Gastroscopy (Blue Chilli NZ)
- Upper GI Endoscopy Procedure in the ED
Why These Videos Are Helpful
Watching these videos allows patients to:
- Understand what actually happens during the procedure
- See how doctors operate the endoscope in real time
- Learn how polyps are removed and biopsies are taken
- Reduce fear of the unknown by seeing real patient experiences
Both colonoscopy and gastroscopy are routine, safe, and highly valuable diagnostic tools. Early detection of gastrointestinal diseases significantly improves treatment outcomes.