Endoscopy

Endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of your body is examined using an endoscope (flexible tube with a light and a video camera on the tip). This procedure investigates problems of the gastrointestinal tract (the part of the body that takes in food, digests it and expels the remaining waste).

We undertake a wide range of procedures, including:

colon cancer screening procedures
treatment of reflux
inflammatory bowel disease
irritable bowel syndrome
treatment of diseases of the liver, biliary system and pancreas
bronchoscopy and cytology, biopsy, bronchial brushing, fine needle aspiration (FNA), bronchoalveolar lavage.

How we help

An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of your body is examined using an endoscope. An endoscope is a long, thin, flexible tube that has a light source and a video camera at one end.

What we do

Diagnostic endoscopy (examination to look at your internal organs using an instrument called an endoscope): Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (OGD); lower intestinal endoscopy; flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy; cystoscopy; bronchoscopy; polypectomy and balloon dilatation of strictures.
Therapeutic endoscopy (a procedure to treat a problem with your upper gastrointestinal tract: mouth, oesophagus, stomach and small intestine). Stent placement; dilatation; treatment of oesophageal and gastric varices; treatment of achalasia; polypectomy and EMR (Endoscopic Mucosal Resection); placement of feeding tubes (PEG, NJ).
Surveillance endoscopy: Barrett’s oesophagus; polyp surveillance; colon surveillance post-surgery or for positive family history of bowel cancer; inflammatory bowel diseases.
Endoscopic ultrasound: Both upper GI and rectal and anal ultrasound.
ERCP: Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography.
Emergency endoscopy (procedure to diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts and pancreas). Diagnosis and treatment of gastro-intestinal bleeding, in and out of hours (24/7 consultant cover).
Bowel cancer screening: Colonoscopy screening; bowel scope (St Richard’s).
Outpatient services: Pre-assessment; iron deficiency anaemia.
Endoscopy therapy for UGI bleeding
Removal of foreign bodies
Achalasia balloon dilatation
Pyloric balloon dilatation
Flexible sigmoidocsopy and biopsy (without sedation)
Abnormal pressure patternsworth
Ano-rectal physiology study – Neural function
Breath test for detection of Helicobacter Pylori

Referrals

We see patients on a urgent and routine referral basis from their GP’s and also provide urgent patient care to people presenting with sudden and unexpected complications of gastrointestinal disease.

Referral information for GPs

Please note: this service is not for patient use

Medical gastroenterology offers a mobile phone contact for GPs, Monday to Friday from 9am to 12 noon.

Each morning the consultant gastroenterologist covering the specialist ward at the Royal Sussex County Hospital will be available for urgent clinical advice relating to new gastroenterological queries.

Patients already belonging to one of the medical gastro consultants should ideally be discussed with that consultant, contacted through his/her secretary.