Patient education: Endoscopic ultrasound (The Basics)

What is endoscopic ultrasound? — Endoscopic ultrasound is a type of imaging test. It uses a camera and sound waves to create pictures of your digestive tract. The digestive tract includes the esophagus (throat), stomach, and small and large intestines. The test also looks at your nearby organs, including your gallbladder and pancreas.

The test uses a tool called an "endoscope." A typical endoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end. With an endoscopic ultrasound, the tip of the endoscope also has an ultrasound probe. This probe uses sound waves to create pictures of the inside of your body.

Doctors can do an endoscopic ultrasound in 1 of 2 ways. This depends on which parts of your digestive tract they need to see:

●For an upper endoscopic ultrasound, they insert the endoscope through your mouth and down your throat (figure 1).

●For a lower endoscopic ultrasound, they insert the endoscope through your anus and into your rectum.

Why might I get an endoscopic ultrasound? — Your doctor might order this test to:

●Check an area that looked abnormal on another type of imaging test

●Check for gallstones

●Check your lymph nodes

●Find the cause of symptoms like belly pain or unexplained weight loss

●Diagnose or "stage" cancer – Cancer staging is a way in which doctors find out how far a cancer has spread.

Sometimes, doctors combine endoscopic ultrasound with other procedures. For example, they might use other tools to take a tissue sample for testing or to drain fluid from a cyst.

How do I prepare for an endoscopic ultrasound? — The doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to do anything special to prepare.

Before your procedure, your doctor will do an exam. They might send you to get tests, such as:

●Lab tests

●Other imaging tests

Your doctor will also ask you about your "health history." This involves asking you questions about any health problems you have or had in the past, past surgeries, and any medicines you take. Tell them about:

●Any medicines you are taking – This includes any prescription or "over-the-counter" medicines you use, plus any herbal supplements you take. It helps to write down and bring a list of any medicines you take, or bring a bag with all of your medicines with you.

●Any allergies you have

●Any bleeding problems you have – Certain medicines, including some herbs and supplements, can increase the risk of bleeding. Some health conditions also increase this risk.

You will also get information about:

●Eating and drinking before your procedure – In some cases, you might need to "fast" before surgery. This means not eating or drinking anything for a period of time. In other cases, you might be allowed to have liquids until a short time before the procedure. Whether you need to fast, and for how long, depends on the procedure you are having.

●Colon cleansing – If the endoscope is going to be inserted through your anus and into your rectum, you need to clean out your colon. Your doctor or nurse will give you information about how to do this.

●What help you will need when you go home – For example, you might need to have someone else bring you home or stay with you for some time while you recover.

Ask the doctor or nurse if you have questions or if there is anything you do not understand.

What happens during an endoscopic ultrasound? — When it is time for the procedure:

●You will get an "IV," which is a thin tube that goes into a vein. This can be used to give you fluids and medicines.

●You will get anesthesia medicines. This is to make sure that you do not feel pain during the procedure.

●The doctors and nurses will monitor your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen level, and heart rate during the procedure.

●The doctor will slowly insert the endoscope through your mouth or anus. The camera and the ultrasound probe on the endoscope will send pictures to a screen that the doctor can see.

●If the doctor needs to take a sample of tissue or fluid for testing, they will do this using special tools that are inserted through the endoscope.

What happens after an endoscopic ultrasound? — After your procedure, the staff will watch you closely as your anesthesia wears off.

As you recover:

●You might feel groggy or confused for a short time. You might also feel nauseous or vomit. The doctor or nurse can give you medicine to help with this.

●The staff will help you get out of bed and start moving around when you are ready.

●You will get medicine to help with pain or other symptoms, if needed.

●The staff will monitor you to decide when it is safe for you to start eating and drinking again. Then, you can start eating as you are able. You might feel better if you start with bland foods.

Depending on the results of your endoscopic ultrasound and any other tests you had, you might need more testing or treatments. Your doctor will talk to you about what happens next.

What are the risks of an endoscopic ultrasound? — Your doctor will talk to you about all of the possible risks, and answer your questions. Possible risks include:

●Bleeding

●Infection

●Damage to the organs

What else should I know? — Before you go home from the hospital, make sure that you know what problems to look out for and when you should call the doctor. Make sure that you understand your doctor or nurse's instructions. Ask questions about anything you do not understand.

More on this topic

Patient education: Upper endoscopy (The Basics)
Patient education: Colonoscopy (The Basics)

Patient education: Upper endoscopy (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Colonoscopy (Beyond the Basics)