The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that an endoscopy is a procedure used by physicians to look inside the body. An endoscope is a flexible tube with a small camera on the end of it. There are many different types of endoscopies, each named for the organ or area of the body examined. For example, a colonoscopy is an endoscopic procedure in which the endoscope is inserted through the anus in order to view the colon and the rectum. A bronchoscopy is when the physician passes the endoscope down the nose and the trachea to view the lungs. Endoscopies may be performed for many different reasons depending upon the area of the body targeted. For instance, a colonoscopy may be performed to evaluate a change in bowel habit or to check for colon cancer. Regardless of the type of endoscopic procedure, risks associated with endoscopies are the same.
Bleeding
According to the Mayo Clinic, there is a possibility of bleeding after an endoscopy. This risk is increased if a doctor performs a biopsy during the endoscopy. A biopsy is when a small piece of tissue is removed for testing. Though this risk is small, in some rare cases bleeding from an endoscopic procedure may be severe enough to require a blood transfusion.
Infection
The Mayo Clinic reports that infection is a possible complication of an endoscopic procedure. An infection may occur within the gastrointestinal tract in cases where the endoscope is inserted through the mouth or anus. In cases when the endoscope is inserted through the skin, as in the case of a laparoscopic procedure, an infection may occur at the insertion point. Some infections may require antibiotics.
Tearing Of The Gastrointestinal Tract
The NIH reports a risk of perforation, or tearing, along the tissue wall during an endoscopy. As the scope moves through the gastrointestinal tract or along delicate organ tissues, there is a possibility that perforation of that tissue may occur. Perforation may lead to bleeding, pain or infection.
