Endoscopy

What is Endoscopy?

An endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a thin, flexible tube to see inside your body. The endoscope has a tiny light and video camera on the end, allowing your provider to see video images on a screen during the procedure. An endoscopy can help your provider to diagnose and treat conditions.

There are many types of endoscopy, each of which looks at a certain part of the body. The most common types are an endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which looks at the stomach and small intestine, and a colonoscopy, which looks at the colon.

By the Numbers

3000+

More than 3000 endoscopic procedures performed each year—more than any other center in the region

Top 50

We are part of a Gastroenterology Division that is ranked in the nation's Top 50

UR Medicine's Approach

We offer state-of-the-art services provided by nationally known physicians with the most experience and training in the Rochester metropolitan area and surrounding region.

What Happens During An Endoscopy of the Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract?

You will receive a sedative through an IV (intravenous) line in your arm or hand. You may also receive numbing medicine in the back of your throat.

Once you are drowsy and your throat is numb, your provider will put the tube into your throat through your mouth.

You may feel some pressure or swelling as the tube moves along. You will not be able to swallow during the procedure. The saliva will be suctioned from your mouth from time to time.

Depending on your condition, you may be able to leave the hospital the same day of the procedure.

Diagnosis

An endoscopy can be used to diagnose problems such as:

GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
Infections and inflammation

Narrowing (strictures) or blockages
Celiac disease
Crohn's disease of the upper GI tract

Treatment

An endoscopy can also be used to:

Control bleeding
Remove tumors or growths (polyps)
Open (dilate) a narrowed esophagus
Place a feeding tube

What Sets Us Apart?

At UR Medicine, we work to give patients confidence in knowing they are receiving truly world-class diagnosis and treatment. We provide leading-edge care in a collaborative way, bringing together experienced physicians from related disciplines to treat your condition from every angle.

The Center for Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy at UR Medicine provides treatments, such as double balloon enteroscopy, that are not available anywhere else in the Rochester metropolitan area and surrounding region. We perform more advanced endoscopic procedures than any other center in the area. Studies show that the centers which have the greatest volume for a procedure also tend to have the best outcomes.

The Bariatric Endoscopy Program at UR Medicine offers the weight-loss balloon procedure. We are partnered with the Bariatric Surgery Center at Highland Hospital.

We combine the most advanced subspecialty expertise with cutting edge technology with an emphasis on access and quality. Through our active role in clinical trials, we are helping our patients have access to the most promising new treatments today.