Articulating borescopes are very effective pieces of medical equipment. They often assist doctors with finding tumors of the anus, colon, large and small intestines as well as diagnosing polyps and hernias. However, these borescopes can also detect and diagnose problems of the upper GI tract and system as well. If you are about to undergo a procedure that uses a borescope for upper GI problems, here is what you can expect.

The Day before the Procedure

The day before the procedure your doctor will instruct you to stop eating solids and semi-solid foods by a certain time of the day. This is a preventive measure that will disallow vomiting during your procedure. If you do not vomit, then you also cannot inhale it into your lungs or airway. You will be allowed water and nighttime medications, but usually after a light dinner early in the evening you are not supposed to eat anything else (ergo, no midnight snacks).

The Day of the Procedure

If you can, schedule your procedure early in the morning. This way you can have something to eat as soon as the procedure is over. (It is better than having to wait for an afternoon procedure on an empty stomach all morning and then feeling so ravenous afterwards.) Do not eat anything before your procedure! Your doctor will then have you get into a hospital gown so that the top half of you is protected during the procedure. If you have loose-fitting pants and socks on, your doctor might allow you to keep these on to make you more comfortable.

The Procedure

Next, your mouth, throat and esophagus may be numbed, either with a special numbing agent you can drink or with a shot. You will be instructed to lay as flat on your back as you can. If you want to be sedated for the procedure, your doctor may allow this, but some doctors like to have you awake to respond to questions as you are able and the need arises. The borescope is lubed up with a nontoxic agent. The lube may also double as a numbing agent so that it helps get the scope past your gag reflex and continues to aid the scope down into your stomach and the start of your small intestine.

The scope has a light and camera on it that allows your doctor to see all the way down and take pictures of anything unusual or concerning in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Once your doctor has had a chance to explore all of the areas he or she wanted to examine internally, the scope is slowly and carefully retracted and you are free to wake up (if you chose full anesthetization) and go home.

For an articulating borescope, contact a company such as USA Borescopes.

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