Endoscopy

What is endoscopy?

Endoscopy is used to describe a procedure in which an instrument called an endoscope is used to diagnose and treat problems of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the respiratory system. An endoscope is a thin flexible tube with a tiny video camera on the end.

The GI tract includes the esophagus, stomach, intestine and other organs such as the liver, pancreas and gall bladder. An upper GI endoscopy involves the endoscope being inserted through the mouth. A lower GI endoscopy involves a tube inserted through the rectum.

Bronchoscopy is a procedure that looks inside the trachea (windpipe) and bronchial tubes.

Danville Regional Medical Center's Endoscopy Department provides for a variety of endoscopic procedures that are both diagnostic and therapeutic in nature. Such procedures include, Sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, Upper GI endoscopy, Bronchoscopy (including deep needle aspiration, and Brachytherapy), ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography), Manometry, 24 hour Ph monitoring, and Hydrogen Breath Test.

The unit provides safe comprehensive and personalized care to patients undergoing a variety of gastrointestinal procedures. It is staffed with Registered Nurses and technicians that work collaboratively with the physicians.

Safety is concern number one. Patients often receive sedation and medications to promote comfort and amnesia throughout the procedure and post procedure recovery periods. These medications require close monitoring due to a variety of potential complications. A registered nurse is responsible for the patients from admission to discharge.

The nurses are continually updating their skills, knowledge base and competencies to provide the upmost standard of care. They look to the Society of Gastrointestinal Nurses for guidance and use these national standards to provide care. Management and staff constantly work to assure that the patient care in the endoscopy unit meets the standards set by the Joint Commission for Accredidation of Hospitals. All nurses have current education in Basic Life support and the majority of staff are certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support. This certification provides direction in airway management and emergency care. Although, these are skills they rarely are required to use; they are prepared to provide whatever emergency care is required.

An RN is always present at the patient's side throughout the procedure. It is the nurse's responsibility to assure the patient is properly sedated, comfortable and to monitor for any complications of the procedure or medications.

All staff promote quality care by taking an active role in the quality improvement of the unit. Indicators looking at infection control issues, medication safety and administration, timeliness in care and patient satisfaction are under constant study. Quality improvement is considered a continous process.