Enteroscopy is a medical procedure used to examine the small intestine. The word is spelled using IPA phonetic transcription as /ɛntəˈrɑskəpi/. The first syllable is pronounced as "en-tuh," with the "en" sound pronounced like the beginning of the word "end." The second syllable is pronounced as "ro," with the "o" sound pronounced like the "oa" in "boat." The third and final syllable is pronounced as "skoh-pee," with the stress on the second syllable. The word has a Greek origin, with "entero-" meaning "intestine" and "-scopy" meaning "examination."
Enteroscopy is a medical procedure used to examine the small intestine, also known as the small bowel. It allows healthcare professionals to visualize and diagnose various conditions or issues occurring in this part of the digestive system.
During an enteroscopy, a flexible tube-like instrument called an enteroscope is inserted into the body through the mouth or anus. The enteroscope is equipped with a light and a camera that captures images of the small intestine, which can be viewed on a monitor in real-time. This procedure can be performed using two types of enteroscopes: the traditional long enteroscope or the newer balloon-assisted enteroscope.
Enteroscopy is generally recommended when other diagnostic methods, such as X-rays or traditional endoscopy, have failed to provide sufficient information about the small intestine. It can help detect various conditions like ulcerations, tumors, polyps, bleeding sources, or areas of inflammation. In addition to diagnosis, enteroscopy can also be used for therapeutic interventions such as removing polyps, stopping bleeding, or taking tissue samples for further examination (biopsy).
The procedure is typically performed under sedation to ensure patient comfort. Depending on the specific case, enteroscopy can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours to complete. It is considered a safe procedure with minimal risks, though some potential complications may include bleeding, infection, or perforation of the intestine.
Overall, enteroscopy is an important tool in modern healthcare as it allows for direct visualization and diagnosis of conditions occurring in the small intestine.
The word "enteroscopy" is derived from two Greek roots: "enteron" (ἔντερον), meaning "intestine" or "gut", and "skopein" (σκοπεῖν), meaning "to examine" or "to see".
Combining the two roots, "enteroscopy" refers to the medical procedure of visually examining the small intestine.