Endoskopu

Endoskopu is a medical term used in some languages to denote an endoscope, a device designed to visualize the interior of hollow organs and body cavities. It can be flexible or rigid and is often equipped with a camera and light source at the distal tip.

The basic structure includes an insertion tube, a control section, and illumination and imaging components; many models also feature a working channel that allows instruments to be passed to perform biopsies, remove tissue, or treat lesions. Modern devices are commonly video-endoscopes that transmit images to a computer or monitor.

Endoscopes are categorized by flexibility (flexible endoscopy such as gastroscopy, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy; and rigid endoscopy used in arthroscopy, cystoscopy, or other procedures) and by application. They are used for diagnostic purposes, including visualization of mucosal surfaces and targeted biopsies, as well as therapeutic interventions such as polypectomy, dilation of strictures, stent placement, foreign body removal, and laser or cautery therapy.

Procedures require sterile technique, appropriate patient monitoring and often sedation or anesthesia; potential complications include bleeding, infection, perforation, and adverse reactions to anesthesia, with risks varying by organ system and procedure.

History of endoscopy dates to the 19th century, with major advancements in the 20th century enabling flexible fiber-optic endoscopy; the 1980s and 1990s saw widespread adoption of video endoscopy. Leading manufacturers include Olympus and Karl Storz.