Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EFGDS) is one of the most effective methods for diagnosing diseases of the stomach, esophagus and duodenum. Unfortunately, during its implementation, most patients experience severe discomfort. For this reason, many are trying to find an effective alternative to gastroscopy of the stomach. Thanks to the achievements of modern science, such techniques have really been developed.
About esophagogastroduodenoscopy
It is very difficult to overestimate the importance of this research method. Thanks to him, in the early stages you can identify the following diseases of the digestive system:
- esophagitis;
- gastritis;
- duodenitis;
- ulcers and erosion;
- benign and malignant neoplasms;
- polyps;
- gastroesophagic reflux disease;
- diaphragmatic hernia and other types of gastrointestinal pathology.
Such a high information content of the technique is due to the fact that it allows you to visualize the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.
Description of procedure
The technique of esophagogastroduodenoscopy involves the following sequential manipulations:
- Preparing the patient for the study.
- The choice of anesthesia method (most often it is sufficient to use a spray that reduces the sensitivity of the oral cavity and pharynx, thereby reducing the severity of the gag reflex).
- Using an endoscope to pass through the digestive tract through the esophagus, stomach to the duodenum. During this study, the doctor can perform a diagnostic biopsy, and sometimes remove small polyps that can turn into malignant tumors in the future.
- Observation of the patient for 20-30 minutes in order to exclude the development of complications.
After this procedure, many patients talk about the discomfort experienced. During the study, it is extremely important to follow absolutely all the instructions of the doctor and nurse.
About discomfort with gastroscopy of the stomach
Analysis of surveys conducted in health facilities among patients undergoing EFHDS shows that most of them experience certain discomfort during this procedure. Among the most common complaints are the following:
- Vomiting reflex (of varying severity depending on the individual characteristics of the person and the anesthetic used) during gastroscopy.
- Non-critical breathing difficulties during the study.
- Feeling of bloating in the abdomen during gastroscopy (due to the supply of air to the stomach and intestines to expand their walls in order to improve visualization of the mucous membrane).
- Tingling in the abdomen during the day after the study (due to the same additional introduction of air into the digestive tract).
- Slight sore throat after the study (most often takes place in the morning after EFGDS).
Moreover, the severity of all these symptoms varies greatly depending on the particular patient, the anesthesia used, and the technique used.
How to prepare for the study?
First of all, it is recommended to consult a general practitioner or gastroenterologist. They will conduct a general examination, palpation of the abdomen, and also collect an anamnesis. Before undergoing this diagnostic procedure, the patient should find out what tests are needed for gastroscopy of the stomach. Most often, therapists and gastroenterologists direct a person to the following clinical and laboratory studies:
- general blood analysis;
- biochemical blood test (AlAT, AsAT, total and conjugated bilirubin, amylase, electrolytes);
- blood glucose.
In addition to passing tests, it is very important to undergo the necessary training immediately before esophagogastroduodenoscopy. It means refusing to take any food for at least 6 hours before the study.
Gastroscopy analogues
The stomach, esophagus and duodenum are organs that are quite complicated for research. The most informative method for diagnosing his diseases is esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Thanks to this type of research, an endoscopist is able to study in detail the morphological structure of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, in the process of EFGDS, a specialist can conduct a biopsy (take a sample of an altered section of the mucous membrane) and then send it to a histopathological examination.
No other research method is capable of providing equally complete information about the state of the digestive tract. At the same time, there are a number of diagnostic procedures that can help determine the majority of diseases of the stomach, esophagus and duodenum. As a result, the following research methods can become an alternative to gastric gastroscopy:
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
- X-ray study using barium suspension.
- Capsular EFGDS.
- Ultrasound examination of the stomach.
Each of these methods has both advantages and disadvantages.
Magnetic resonance imaging
Such a diagnostic procedure is currently one of the most popular among patients and doctors of various specialties, including gastroenterologists. As a result, it is often positioned as a good substitute for gastroscopy of the stomach. Its undoubted advantages are the following:
- no side effects;
- does not bring discomfort during the study, in contrast to gastroscopy;
- allows the specialist to get a layered display of the structure of the stomach, esophagus and intestines;
- the radiologist can see not only the internal cavity of the stomach, but also its external wall, which allows one to identify neoplasms with exophytic growth, which are extremely difficult to diagnose diseases.
Unfortunately, magnetic resonance imaging cannot be considered a full-fledged analogue of gastric gastroscopy, as it does not allow a detailed assessment of the state of the mucous membrane and a tissue sample for histopathological examination. In the process of improving the technique of magnetic resonance imaging, it is likely that this type of diagnosis will be able to compete with the implementation of classical esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
X-ray with barium suspension
This diagnostic method is used less often than others. This is due to the fact that such a procedure has limited information content and is accompanied by irradiation of both the patient and the medical personnel conducting it. This alternative to gastroscopy provides data on:
- patency of the esophagus and stomach;
- the presence or absence of large tumors on the mucous membrane of the digestive tract;
- contractile function of the stomach.
Naturally, this technique also cannot serve as an alternative to gastroscopy of the stomach, but it has its diagnostic value and scope.
Capsule endoscopy
At present, when discussing the question of whether there is an alternative to gastroscopy of the stomach, this diagnostic technique is most often mentioned. Its advantages are:
- lack of discomfort during the study;
- the possibility of obtaining information about the condition of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.
At the same time, this method is not without its serious flaws, the main ones of which are the following:
- high cost of the procedure;
- the probability of skipping a pathology, since during the study not only the entire surface of the mucous membrane is examined, but only those parts of it that fell into the camera lens;
- the impossibility of taking a sample of altered tissue for further histopathological examination and establishing an accurate diagnosis.
As a result, today capsular gastroscopy is not a panacea for the detection of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Now this method is very expensive and ineffective. It is possible that in the process of improving this diagnostic procedure, most of its shortcomings will be eliminated and it can become a good alternative to gastric gastroscopy.
Ultrasonography
Many patients believe that an abdominal ultrasound can be a great option for replacing a gastroscopy of the stomach. Unfortunately, this is not entirely true. This technique does not allow a detailed study of the state of the stomach. At the same time, she has a number of positive aspects, the main ones of which are the following:
- It is completely safe.
- It does not require serious preparation (except for refusing food within 4-6 hours before the study).
- It has no contraindications to its conduct.
- The method does not require serious cash costs.
- It allows you to suspect the presence of many malignant neoplasms of the digestive system.
As a result, such a technique cannot be a good option for replacing the gastroscopy of the stomach, but due to its advantages it is used very often.