Purpose:
The doctor may recommend endoscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, disorders, and conditions. Endoscopy may be recommended for the following cases:

• To perform a tissue biopsy: A tissue biopsy involves the excision of a tissue sample to check for a particular disease or cancer cells.
• Diagnosis: An endoscopy may be performed to determine the cause of any abnormal symptoms that may be present.
• Treatment: Endoscopy can be helpful to the doctor to see inside the body during a surgical procedure.

An endoscopy may be recommended in the following cases:

• Stomach ulcer (sore formation in the lining of the stomach)
• Inflammation bowel diseases (a group of intestinal disorders causing prolonged digestive tract inflammation), like ulcerative colitis (usually affects the innermost lining of the large intestine and rectum, where stools are stored before being excreted) and Crohn’s disease (usually affects the lining of the digestive tract)
• Chronic (long-term) constipation
• Gallstones (hardened deposit within the fluid in the gallbladder, which is a small organ under the liver)
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, which is an organ that lies behind the lower part of the stomach)
• Tumors 
• Infections
• Bleeding in the digestive tract, the cause of which is unknown
• Blockage of the food pipe or esophagus
• Hiatal hernia (when a part of the stomach pushes into the chest cavity)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (a digestive disorder in which the stomach acid flows into the food pipe and irritates its lining)
• Blood in urine
• Unusual bleeding from the vagina
• Digestive tract problems

Symptoms:

The following symptoms may indicate the need for endoscopy:

• Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing)
• Stomach pain that recurs or does not go away
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Unintentional weight loss
• Blood in stools
• Frequent indigestion or heartburn
• Polyps or growths in the colon or large intestine
• Unusual bleeding from the vagina

The following tests may be done before an endoscopy procedure:

• Blood tests and urine tests: These tests may be performed to check the levels of the various blood parameters, and the presence of any underlying medical condition.
• Imaging tests: Imaging tests like x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRI scans may be recommended to obtain clear images of the internal organs of the body.

• The procedure may be performed under local anesthesia (the area of the procedure is numbed) or general anesthesia (the patient is put to sleep during the procedure).
• The endoscopy procedure varies depending on the type of procedure being performed, the symptoms of the patient, and the diagnosis.
• The endoscope is carefully put into the body by the doctor. 

Depending on the part of the body that is being looked at, the endoscope may be placed into:

• Mouth and down the throat
• Anus 
• Urethra

The diagnostic or treatment procedure is then carried out by the doctor.

The procedure may take about 15 to 45 minutes to complete, depending on the type of procedure being performed.

The risks associated with an endoscopy procedure are:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Allergic reaction to anesthetics
• Blood clot formation
• Swelling of the joints
• Nerve or blood vessel damage
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Pneumonia
• Hoarseness 
• Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
• Chest pain
• Fever
• Damage to the body organs, and possible organ perforation
• Redness and swelling at the site of incision
• Persistent pain in the endoscopy area
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Bloody urine
• Urinary tract infection
• Dark-colored stools

• Most of the endoscopies are outpatient procedures, which means that the patient can go home on the same day of the procedure.
• The patient will most likely stay in the hospital for an hour or two for observation and later discharged.
• The doctor gives instructions on how to care for the wound at home.
• Some endoscopy procedures may cause pain and discomfort.
• Your doctor may prescribe pain-relieving medications to relieve the pain.
• It is normal to have some nausea and drowsiness for 24 hours after the procedure.
• You may have a sore throat if the endoscope was placed in the windpipe during the surgery.
• Most people are able to resume their daily activities within a day or so after the procedure.

Contact your doctor if you notice the following symptoms after the procedure:

• Pain, swelling, or redness in the area of the endoscope insertion
• High fever
• Pus or discharge of fluid at the site of the endoscope insertion
• Black or dark-colored stools
• Shortness of breath
• Vomiting of blood
• Severe stomach pain
• Chest pain
• Difficulty in swallowing