What is endoscopy?
An endoscope is simply explained as a flexible tube with light and a mirror/camera at the end. An endoscopic examination gives us the opportunity to examine the body's various cavities. Via natural openings, the nasal cavity and airways, stomach and intestines as well as the urinary tract and bladder can be examined. In addition to examinations where natural openings are entered, an opening can be made to inspect, for example, joints and the abdomen. Endoscopes come in different versions and have different properties depending on what is to be examined and what is to be done. Most have a working channel where you can insert different instruments for, for example, sampling and small operations. At A-Vet Small Animal Clinic, we do simple endoscopy examinations and will eventually expand the offer.
In the text below, you can read a short description of the various investigations that can be carried out. If there is a need for an examination that we cannot offer, we will refer the patient on.
Table of contents
Some important endoscopic examinations
Rhinoscopy
Examination of the nasal cavity. This may be relevant for examination of the nasal cavity in case of persistent sneezing, runny nose etc.
Heard about cats getting blades of grass stuck in their throats/noses? It is actually not an unusual problem in cats. In most cases, the straw is caught in the throat, and other times out of the nose, but in some cases it is necessary to enter the nose with an endoscope and grasp it with forceps via the working canal.
The cat Bastian had grass in his nose
In the following clip, we were presented with the cat Bastian, who, according to the owner, had been sneezing for many weeks. Bastian had previously had his nose and throat examined under anesthesia with no findings. When the sneezing persisted, it was decided that rhinoscopy should be performed. During rhinoscopy, a very thin cable is inserted where the end can be controlled and which contains a small mirror/camera, light and a working channel to insert various tools out to the other end, in this case forceps were used. After an extensive search in one of the cat's nostrils, we found something green and got hold of it and pulled it out whole! It was a blade of grass that was approx. 4-5cm long!
Bronchoscopy
Examination of the respiratory tract in case of, for example, persistent cough or other respiratory disorders. It is also possible to take samples for, for example, the cultivation of bacteria or fungi.
gastroscopy
Examination of the esophagus, stomach and first part of the small intestine. Often used for sampling/tissue samples beyond the visual inspection. A relevant example is also the foreign object. Dogs have a tendency more often than cats to eat things they shouldn't, and you can retrieve the object with a gastroscopy.
Cystoscopy
Examination of the urethra and the bladder from the inside.
Laparoscopy
Laparoscopy is a peephole examination of the abdomen (stomach). The examination can be done both as part of an extended disease investigation and to carry out certain surgical interventions such as sterilization. One to three small holes are made into which the endoscope and instruments are inserted.
Arthroscopy
Examination of joints, also widely used for the treatment of various joint disorders.