Indications for Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy
Some of the common indications for upper GI endoscopy include:
1. Evaluation of haematemesis and melaena.
2. Evaluation of upper abdominal pain or dyspepsia.
3. Evaluation of dysphagia and odynophagia.
4. Evaluation of severe or recurrent vomiting.
5. Evaluation of unexplained anorexia and weight loss.
6. Evaluation of non-cardiac chest pain.
7. Evaluation of unexplained iron-deficiency anaemia.
8. Evaluation of positive faecal occult blood.
9. Evaluation of an abnormal barium meal.
10. Search for a primary growth in a patient known to have malignant disease.
11. Follow up of gastric ulcer to confirm healing.
12. Follow-up of dysplastic lesions or premalignant conditions.
13. Evaluation of liver disease to look for esophageal varices.
14. For duodenal biopsy in the assessment of malabsorption.
15. Evaluation of esophageal/gastric injury following ingestion of corrosive substances.
16. Unexplained elevation of CEA.
Duodenal ulcer in a patient
presenting with abdominal pain
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Indications for colonoscopy
1. Evaluation of unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding.
2. Evaluation of chronic constipation or a change in bowel habits in a person over 40 years of age.
3. Evaluation of chronic diarrhoea.
4. Evaluation of unexplained iron deficiency anaemia.
5. Screening or surveillance for colonic neoplasia.
6. Evaluation of an abnormality on barium enema that is likely to be clinically significant.
7. To assess activity or guide management in inflammatory bowel disease.
8. Search for a primary growth in a patient with metastatic malignant disease.
9. Unexplained elevation of CEA.
Diagnosis of colorectal
cancer by colonoscopy
Colonic polyp discovered Polyp being removed After removal
Indications for Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatogram (ERCP)
1. To diagnose and treat biliary obstruction in a patient with jaundice or cholestasis.
2. For biliary drainage/endoscopic papillotomy/stone extraction in choledocholithiasis.
3. Evaluation of abnormality of the pancreas or common bile duct detected by ultrasound or Computer Tomography (CT) scan.
4. To diagnose or exclude sclerosing cholangitis in the presence of abnormal liver function tests in a patient with inflammatory bowel disease.
5. In acute pancreatitis with the aim of diagnosing and treating common bile duct stones
6. To diagnose chronic pancreatitis in the patient with unexplained severe abdominal pain.
7. Evaluation of ampullary or peri-ampullary tumour.
Common bile duct stone
removed at ERCP