Endoscopy

An endoscopy is sometimes referred to as a gastroscopy.  This test checks inside your throat, oesophagus (food pipe) and stomach.  This area of your body is known as the upper part of your digestive system.  It uses a long, thin, flexible tube with a small camera inside.  This method of testing can also be used to remove tissue to testing – this is called a biopsy.

Trans Nasal Endoscopy (TNE)

A Trans-Nasal endoscopy is a procedure where a narrow flexible tube with a light and a camera at the end, is passed down through the nose to examine the oesophagus (swallowing tube), stomach and part of the duodenum (small bowel). The width of the flexible camera is 6mm. The camera sends images back to a monitor where they are viewed by the endoscopist, (doctor or specialist nurse performing the test) throughout the procedure.

In some cases (and often routinely) it may be necessary to take biopsies (small samples of tissue), using tiny forceps. The samples are sent to the laboratory for analysis using a microscope. Taking biopsies is painless and very safe. It is routine for pictures taken during the test to be stored as part of your health record.

It is important to note that the flexible tube passes down your gullet avoiding your trachea (breathing pipe). You can breathe and talk normally throughout the whole procedure. Although the endoscope passes through the nasal passages, the purpose of the procedure is to diagnose and treat symptoms of the upper digestive tract. Any obvious abnormalities of the nasal passages noted during the procedure may need follow up with another specialist.

Note: Information on TNE taken from an NHS Patient Information Sheet.