Preliminary training course on diagnostic upper gastrointestinal

endoscopy

After this course you would be able to

• Determine the indications and contraindications of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (patient selection)

• Define the proper time for the procedure• Prepare the patient for the procedure• Handle the endoscopy team• Perform the procedure• Check for the possible complications• Write an endoscopy report

Patient selection• Patient with upper gastrointestinal discomfort

with the alarming signs:– Age > 50– Weight loss– Anemia– Vomiting– Family history of upper gastrointestinal malignancy

• Those refractory to therapy• Surveillance for Barrett's esophagus• Long standing reflux symptoms

Contraindications

• Hemodynamic unstable patient that need resuscitation before endoscopy

• Hopoxia • Cardiac arrhythmia• Esophageal perforation

Precaution

• Patients with unstable airway or respiratory failure need tracheal intubation before endoscopy

• Check for hypoxia during the procedure and titrate the supplemental oxygen to avoid hypoxia

• Patients with massive bleeding with risk of aspiration need tracheal intubation before endoscopy

Precaution

• Patients with cardiac instability need proper management before endoscopy

• Check for arrhythmia during the procedure and terminate the procedure immediately if significant tachy or brady arrhythmias arise

• Patients suspected for esophageal perforation (with foreign body swallowing or corrosive esophagitis) need CXR and contrast radiography for detection of possible perforation before endoscopy

Timing of endoscopy

• Emergent endoscopy is preferred in patients with ongoing (active) severe bleeding– Fresh blood on gastric washing– Orthostatic hypotension in spite of proper

resuscitation– Melena perse or coffee ground in gastric washing

is not a sign of active bleeding • Elective endoscopy is preferred when no sign

of ongoing bleeding exist

Preparing the patient

• The risks and benefits of the procedure should be offered to the patient and written informed consent should be taken before the procedure

• The patient should be examined before the procedure for the evaluation of:– Vital signs– Existence of wheezing in lungs that need

bronchodilator before the procedure– Signs of esophageal perforation (pnumothorax and

subcutaneous emphysema)

Preparing the patient

• Check for hypoxia by pulse oximetery• Use supplemental nasal oxygen for patient with

O2 saturation < 90%• Check for false teeth or any foreign body in

mouth and remove them before the procedure– Secretions in mouth should be suctioned and loose

teeth should be removed to reduce the risk of aspiration

• Insert appropriate airway device

Preparing the patient

• Check for the I.V. lines• Position the patient on left lateral decubitus• Sedate the patient with midazolame infusion

Checking the endoscopy unit

• Check the light source of scope • Perform white balance for getting the optimal

light• Check for the air pump for appropriate air

insufflation• Check the water tank and appropriate water

spray• Check for the power of suction

Endoscopy procedure

• Check for the locks on endoscope and ensure that the tip of scope can move freely

• Lubricate the end of scope with appropriate gel to facilitate the passage of scope through the pharynx

• To reduce the risk of aspiration of the gel, the amount of gel should not be too much to suspense from the tip of scope

• Do not insert gel near to the end of scope to avoid covering the lens

Endoscopy procedure

• Insert the scope in the mouth and move it toward the uvula watching the palate

• Find the pyriform recess and insert the scope carefully to the esophagus

• Do not use the blind approach to reduce the risk of perforation

• Move the scope down and air insufflate to open the esophagus

Endoscopy procedure

• Mention to any mucosal abnormality or strictures and obtain biopsy for the evaluation of malignancy

• Identify glycogenic acanthosis and inlet patch that do not have risk of malignancy

• Watch for white plaques that indicate candidiasis• The possible web or ring in esophagus should be

mentioned• Check for the possible esophageal varices in distal part – Describe the size– Notice to the signs of bleeding tendency (red wale sign)

Endoscopy procedure• Observe the Z line in distal esophagus• Pay special attention to the possible mucosal breaks in

distal esophagus before entering the stomach, since traumatizing the mucosa by the scope might cause false breaks

• Observe for the length of salmon color appearance in distal esophagus

• The salmon color appearance in distal esophagus is indicative of columnar epithelium

• If the length of salmon color appearing part is > 3 cm, obtain 4 quadrant biopsies from it for the detection of possible Barrett's esophagus

Endoscopy procedure

• Move the scope upward and right to reach the pylorus

• Insufflate air to inflate the stomach and watch for mucosal abnormalities carefully

• To observe the cardia and the lesser curvature, retroflex the scope and withdraw the scope to reach the cardia

• Check for the hiatal hernia in retroflexion maneuver

Endoscopy procedure

• Check for any evidence of mucosal edema (snake skin appearance, cobble stoning) in stomach

• Check for the erosions and ulcers– Define the location– Define the size– Stigmata of bleeding

• Check for submucosal lesions and polyps• Check for any evidence of vascular malformations

suspicious as a source of bleeding

Endoscopy procedure• It is better to approach from the base of antrum for passing

through the pylorus and entering the duodenum• Check the bulb for the signs of duodenitis (snake skin appearance)

or ulcer• The scope should move upward and right for reaching to the

second part of duodenum• Check for any signs of malabsorption in D2 (scalloping) • Obtain biopsy from any suspicious lesion in D2 for evaluation of

malabsorption• If the mucosa seemed normal, Obtain 4 quadrant biopsy for

evaluation of malabsorption• Check for Periampullary diverticula • Check for Hemobilia

Check for the possible complications

• Check for chest pain, diaphoresis, and fatigue after the procedure that might indicate ischemic heart disease

• In case of dyspnea, examine the lungs to check for aspiration

• Check for chest pain, subcutaneous, emphysema and respiratory distress after the procedure that might indicate perforation

Endoscopy report

• Report should include:– Patient identification – Date of endoscopy– The reason for endoscopy– Sedation details– Endoscopic findings– Name of the endoscopist and the endoscopy team

Endoscopy report

• The abnormalities in larynx and vocal cords should be mentioned (vocal cord nodule, laryngitis, vocal cord paralysis)

• The description of mucosal, submucosal, vascular abnormalities, and extrinsic compression in the esophagus should be reported.

Endoscopy report• The description of mucosal abnormality consists of:– Size– Location– Stigmata of bleeding (active bleeding, cloth, or visible

vessel)– Shape (depressed, elevated, or flat)– Causing obstruction (could the scope pass through or not)

• An easy way to define the size of lesion, you should compare the size of the lesion with the tip of biopsy forceps

• To localize the lesions in esophagus, the distance of the lesion is reported from the incisor teeth

Endoscopy report

• The description of submucosal abnormality consists of:– Size– Location– Stigmata of bleeding (active bleeding, cloth, or visible

vessel)– Causing obstruction (could the scope pass through or not)

• The description of extrinsic compression consists of:– Size– Location– Causing obstruction (could the scope pass through or not)

Endoscopy report• Vascular abnormalities in esophagus consist of:– Varices – Arteriovenous malformation – Angiodysplasia– Hemangioma

• The description of vascular abnormality consists of:– Size– Location– Stigmata of bleeding (active bleeding, clot, or visible

vessel)

Z line and salmon color appearance mucosa in distal esophagus

Submucosal lesion

ESOPHAGEAL STRICTURE

Endoscopy report

• Describe the mucosal breaks in distal esophagus according to “Los angles classification”:– If the mucosal break is < 5 mm (GERD A)– If the mucosal break is > 5 mm (GERD B)– If the mucosal break is > 5 mm and invading more than

75% of the esophageal circumference (GERD C)– If ulcer exists (GERD D)

• Describe the length of salmon color appearance part in distal esophagus

• Report that biopsy was taken if the length of salmon color appearance part in distal esophagus was > 3 cm

GERD

GERD B

GERD C GERD D

GERD A

Endoscopy report• Report the size of hiatal hernia:– Small size hiatal hernia exists if there is free space

between the scope and esophagogastric junction with inspiration and disappearance of the free space with expiration

– Medium size hiatal hernia exists if there is fixed free space between the scope and esophagogastric junction that do not change with respiration

– large size hiatal hernia exists if there is fixed free space between the scope and esophagogastric junction that do not change with respiration and the scope can freely enter the esophagus by withdrawing the scope in retroversion maneuver

Hiatal hernia

Large size hiatal hernia with cameron ulcer

Endoscopy report

• The description of mucosal, submucosal, vascular abnormalities, and extrinsic compression in the stomach should be reported with the details mentioned previously.

• Report the mucosal edema or nodularity in stomach

• Check for the erosions and ulcers– Define the location– Define the size– Stigmata of bleeding

Nodularity (above)Snake skin appearance (below)

Erosions (active bleeding in right and without bleeding in left)

Stigmata of rebleeding in ulcer

Gastric polyp

Gastric tumor

Submucosal lesion

Submucosal lesion in stomach

Angiodysplasia

Blue rubber nevus syndrome

Varice in fundus

Watermelon stomach

Hypertrophied gastric folds

Endoscopy report• To localize the lesions in stomach you should find

the incisura angularis as an important marker.• If the lesions are between the incisura angularis

and pylorus they are located in antrum.• If the lesions are above the incisura angularis

they are located in body.• The area about 2-3 cm around the

esophagogastric junction is cardia.• The fundus is considered as the portion of the

stomach that lies above the cardiac notch.

Endoscopy report

• The description of mucosal, submucosal, vascular abnormalities, and extrinsic compression in the duodenum should be reported with the details mentioned previously.

• Report the mucosal edema• Check for the erosions and ulcers– Define the location– Define the size– Stigmata of bleeding

Submucoal lesion in second part of duodenum

Scalloping in second part of duodenum

hemobilia