Gastroscopic surgery, also known as endoscopic surgery or minimally invasive surgery, is a medical procedure that involves the use of a flexible, lighted instrument called a gastroscope to examine and treat conditions within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The gastroscope is a long, thin tube with a camera and a light source that allows physicians to visualize the inner lining of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine without making large incisions.
During the procedure, the gastroscope is inserted through the mouth or anus and advanced through the GI tract. As it moves through, the camera attached to the gastroscope sends real-time images to a monitor, enabling the surgeon to identify abnormalities, such as ulcers, tumors, polyps, or bleeding, and potentially perform therapeutic interventions.
Gastroscopic surgery offers several benefits compared to traditional open surgery. Because it is minimally invasive, it avoids the need for large incisions, resulting in less pain, reduced scarring, and a quicker recovery time for the patient. It also minimizes the risk of complications, infection, and bleeding during and after the procedure.
Common procedures that can be performed using gastroscopic surgery include biopsies to collect tissue samples for laboratory analysis, the removal of polyps and early-stage tumors, the treatment of bleeding ulcers, the dilation or widening of narrowed areas in the GI tract, and the placement of feeding tubes or stents to improve nutrition or relieve obstructions.
In summary, gastroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a gastroscope to visually assess and address various conditions within the gastrointestinal tract, offering advantages of reduced pain, scarring, and recovery time compared to traditional open surgery.
