ENDOSCOPY LAB

Endoscopy is the visual examination of the upper intestinal tract (the esophagus, stomach, duodenum and biliary tract), the lower intestinal tract (colon, sigmoid and rectum), and the lungs.

Specially trained nurses and physicians staff the Endoscopy Lab, located within Tri-State’s Outpatient Services department. They are prepared to respond to circumstances from diagnostics to life-threatening conditions day and night.

Manoscan Esophageal Motility

The state-of-the-art Sierra Manoscan 360 High Resolution Manometry System, uses continuous circumferential catheters for Esophageal Motility Testing. A specially trained Registered Nurse will perform this 10- to 15-minute procedure, which is minimal in discomfort and yields rapid, accurate reports.

Esophageal problems may include difficulty swallowing, heartburn or reflux, or chest pain. If you are having any of these problems, please consult your primary care physician, who will refer you to a Gastroenterologist to determine whether or not this test is right for you.

Scheduling Your Procedure

Patients are scheduled for the procedure by their physician’s office, which contacts the hospital directly. The hospital scheduler will then call you to obtain relevant information and discuss your visit, and any special instructions for the day of the procedure.

Because you will be given medications that will make you drowsy, you are required to bring someone with you who can drive you home the day of the procedure.

How the Procedure Works

A gastroenterologist or a general surgeon performs the endoscopy procedure.

You will be given a sedative intravenously (through the vein) before the procedure that will make you feel drowsy and relaxed. During the procedure, the physician will use an endoscope – a thin and flexible tube – to pass into the digestive tract. The endoscope has a light and a camera, which produces a color image of the inside of the digestive tract.

What to Expect After Your Procedure

When you leave the hospital, you should expect to be awake enough to go home, but plan to continue resting at home. The Endoscopy Unit and emergency telephone numbers will be provided with your discharge instruction sheets.

Post-procedure instruction and home instructions are provided with each patient’s needs in mind. Your doctor will specify any follow-up care you may need.