 |
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy |
|
|
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy |
|
Indications for performing this procedure: Endoscopy is useful in the examination of animals presenting for dysphagia, regurgitation or chronic vomiting, hematemesis, melena, and chronic diarrhea, as well as suspicion of foreign bodies within the alimentary tract. One consideration is the length of the endoscope and whether it will be possible to reach affected bowel.
Contraindications: Because animals must be
put under general anesthesia for endoscopic evaluation, animals unfit for
anesthesia are not good candidates for endoscopy. Bowel perforation is
another contraindication for endoscopic evaluation due to increased risk of
contamination.
With Contrast Radiography: Endoscopy and
contrast radiography are complementary diagnostic tools. While endoscopy
provides valuable gross information regarding the upper gastrointestinal mucosa,
contrast radiography can provide a better picture of luminal diameter as well as
emptying rate. Using these imaging tools together may provide a more
complete picture of the animal's gastrointestinal tract and associated
pathology.
Gastric and Duodenal abnormalities detected with Endoscopy: (gross
lesions)
- Severe gastritis: Mucosa may appear friable, thickened and granular, and be accompanied by erosions and frank hemorrhage.
- Gastric Ulcers and Erosions: Appear as areas of inconsistency within the gastric mucosa (erosion), and may perforate the wall of the organ (ulcer). The erosion will usually appear brown/deep red in the presence of blood, or dirty yellow in the presence of necrotic tissue. The borders of the lesion are often raised.
- Gastric Polyps: Small benign tags of skin protruding into the lumen of the stomach.
- Parasites: The short stomach nematode, Physaloptera, may be encountered in the stomach.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Mucosa may appear abnormally granular or friable. The mucosa may also bleed easily where it contacts the endoscope.
- Neoplasia: Infiltrative neoplasms appear as areas of thickened or irregular mucosa.
Pinch Biopsy - via an endoscope
