Are you concerned about your stomach problems? An endoscopy can help your doctor determine why you're experiencing pain, heartburn and other symptoms. Dr. Saeed Ahmed of Digestive Disease Associates of Central Florida in Wesley Chapel, FL, discusses the endoscopy procedure and shares several benefits.

What happens during an endoscopy?

During your endoscopy, a thin, lighted tube called an endoscope is placed into your mouth and gently passed through your esophagus, stomach and the upper portion of your small intestine. A small camera attached to the tip of the endoscope sends images to a digital monitor. As your gastroenterologist threads the endoscope through your upper digestive tract, he views real-time images on the monitor. Although endoscopies are primarily used for diagnostic purposes, your doctor can take biopsies during the procedure, cauterize bleeding blood vessels and perform other treatments.

What are the benefits of endoscopy?

Endoscopy is:

• Less Invasive: Getting a close look at your gastrointestinal tract used to involve major surgery. Minimally invasive endoscopy has eliminated the need for exploratory surgery in most cases and makes obtaining biopsies much easier.
• Much Less Risky: Endoscopy has significantly fewer risks than open surgery because no incisions are needed. Unlike surgery, endoscopy doesn't require a long recovery period. In fact, most people wake up feeling rested and refreshed. Although you'll probably feel perfectly fine after your endoscopy, you won't be permitted to drive during the rest of the day, due to lingering effects of the sedative.
• More Accurate: X-rays and other tests can detect large masses, but more subtle changes to the lining of your digestive tract can't be detected. Because endoscopy transmits actual pictures of your stomach or small intestine, it's much easier to spot lesions, tumors, bleeding or other issues.
• More Comfortable: During your Wesley Chapel endoscopy procedure, you'll be sedated and won't remember a thing about the endoscopy. After you wake up, you may notice a slight soreness in your throat, but the feeling will quickly subside.

Endoscopies offer important digestive health advantages. If you think you could benefit from the procedure, call Dr. Ahmed of Digestive Disease Associates of Central Florida in Wesley Chapel, FL, at (813) 994-4800 to schedule an appointment.