Endoscopy Services are available for both adult and pediatric patients at all Inova Health System hospitals and include:
Advanced Technology In keeping with our commitment to partner excellent patient care with technology, Inova also offers an Advanced Endoscopy Center and Capsule Endoscopy.
What is Endoscopy? An endoscopy is a non-surgical procedure during which a physician examines the digestive tract or other internal organs, including the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, colon or rectum, with an endoscope. The endoscope is a long, thin, flexible tube with an attached lighted camera. Tissue samples (biopsy) can also be obtained in this manner.
The endoscope can be inserted through the mouth or rectum, depending upon the type of endoscopy needed. Endoscopy is generally performed on an outpatient basis and does not require a hospital stay.
What is Endoscopy Used For? Endoscopy is generally performed by a gastroenterologist (a physician who specializes in the diseases of the digestive tract) and may be used to evaluate a variety of symptoms and conditions including stomach pain, gallstones, difficulty swallowing, ulcers and polyps in the colon.