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St-Elisabeth site - Uccle
02-614 20 00
St-Michel site - Etterbeek
02-614 30 00
Bella Vita Medical Center - Waterloo
02-614 42 00
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ECHO-ENDOSCOPY

MEDICAL INFORMATION PRIOR TO ECHO-ENDOSCOPY

To ensure that you are clearly informed about how this medical procedure will be carried out, we ask you to read the information below carefully. The doctor will be happy to give you any additional information you may require.

 

• 1. WHAT IS ECHO-ENDOSCOPY?

Echo-endoscopy is a digestive exploration technique that combines endoscopy and ultrasound. A miniaturised ultrasound probe attached to the end of a flexible endoscope is positioned close to the organ to be studied, enabling lesions in the digestive tract or neighbouring organs to be detected or explored.

 

• 2. WHY CHOOSE ECHO-ENDOSCOPY?

By approaching the organ directly with an ultrasound probe, it is possible to obtain information that cannot be obtained by other explorations. Echo-endoscopy is the most effective examination for studying the lining of the oesophagus, stomach, duodenum or rectum and neighbouring organs. It can also be used to look for stones, cysts or tumours in the bile ducts and/or pancreas. In some cases, tissue fragments can be removed by puncture and analysed under the microscope.

 

• 3. HOW SHOULD YOU PREPARE FOR AN ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND?

For the examination to be carried out under good conditions, the stomach must be empty. So don't eat, drink or smoke for 6 hours before the examination. Always tell your doctor about any allergies you may have or medicines you are taking. Before the examination, false teeth and glasses must be removed.

 

• 4. HOW WILL YOUR ECHO-ENDOSCOPY WORK?

The examination uses a flexible device called an echo-endoscope. To improve the tolerance of the examination and for your comfort, an intravenous injection of a sedative is given, as well as a local anaesthetic for the throat. This sedative often causes you to forget what happened during the examination, so that you remember little of it. A general anaesthetic may also be scheduled in some cases. In the case of a general anaesthetic, it is the anaesthetist's responsibility to answer any questions you may have about his or her speciality. The examination lasts an average of 10 to 20 minutes. However, the whole procedure (installation in the examination room, administration of sedation, carrying out the examination, waking up and returning to the recovery room) can take up to an hour. It is then recommended to wait at least one hour in the recovery room to monitor and dissipate the effects of the sedation. Between each patient, and in accordance with current recommendations, the endoscope is disinfected and the accessories are sterilised or discarded (single-use equipment) to avoid any transmission of infection.

 

• 5. WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF THE TEST?

The examination is not painful. You will not have any difficulty breathing, as the endoscope does not go into your lungs. Some discomfort, such as a sore throat, bloating or nausea, may occur. In general, you will not remember any of the painkillers administered.

 

• 6. CAN THERE BE COMPLICATIONS?

Echo-endoscopy is a low-risk examination. However, any medical procedure, exploration or operation, even when carried out under conditions of competence and safety in line with current medical knowledge and regulations, carries a risk of complications. Complications of echo-endoscopy are exceptional. Perforations, particularly of the oesophagus, may occur. These are often favoured by underlying lesions (tumour, diverticulum, anatomical variants, cervical osteoarthritis, etc.). Other complications may arise, such as cardiovascular, respiratory or infectious problems. Rare cases of infection or haemorrhage have been reported. Surgery, with its own risks, may then be necessary. Transfusions of blood or blood derivatives are sometimes necessary. These complications may be exacerbated by your medical and surgical history or by the use of certain medicines. All these complications usually appear during the echo-endoscopy, but may also appear a few days after the examination (chest or abdominal pain, fever, chills, etc.). It is therefore very important to contact the doctor who treated you immediately. If you are unable to contact the doctor, please go to the hospital emergency department.

 

• 7. SPECIAL RECOMMENDATIONS

It is advisable not to drive a vehicle after undergoing an examination under sedation or anaesthesia, as sedatives can affect your reflexes or judgement. You should therefore be accompanied home by another person. For the same reasons, you are also advised not to make any important decisions on the day of the examination that require you to be fully lucid. In some cases, you may need to be monitored in hospital, particularly in the event of samples being taken or complications arising. Antibiotics may be prescribed for up to 5 days in the event of samples being taken.

 

• 8. Alternatives

Ultrasound, CT and sometimes MRI are the first-line examinations for the diagnosis of digestive pathologies and are often performed before echo-endoscopy. echo-endoscopy is currently the most sensitive examination for detecting very small anomalies in the biliary tract or pancreas (small stones or tumours). In addition, this examination remains unrivalled for carrying out a precise pre-therapeutic assessment, enabling the patient to be guided towards the best treatment option. The doctor is at your disposal for any further information.

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