Endoscopy and Ultrasound Services

We are glad to be able to offer both endoscopy and ultrasound services.

Endoscopy

Endoscopy is a non-surgical procedure used to evaluate the interior surfaces of an organ using an endoscope, a long, flexible tube with a tiny camera at the tip. Directly viewing the interior of an organ is often very helpful in determining the cause of a problem and/or helpful in establishing a diagnosis. Depending on the symptoms, an endoscope is used to look at the inner lining of the throat, stomach and intestine, colon or the respiratory passages (nose, throat and lungs). Small samples (biopsies) of these areas can be taken and then analyzed to try to determine the nature of the disease. In the case of foreign body ingestion (socks, bones and other such items!), endoscopy offers an alternative to surgical incision and removal of the object. Using the endoscope has the advantage of being less traumatic than standard surgery and allows for a faster recovery.

Ultrasound Imaging

Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, is a painless diagnostic tool used to obtain images inside animals' bodies. An ultrasound machine uses sound waves that penetrate internal organs to create an image that's shown on a computer monitor. A hand-held probe is placed on the skin over the area being studied. No ionizing radiation (x-ray) is involved in ultrasound imaging.

Ultrasound is an excellent, non-invasive tool that is very useful to study the heart and its vessels, as well as the liver, spleen, kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas, adrenal glands, urinary bladder, prostate gland, and other internal organs. It is a non-invasive option in cases where the next step would often be an exploratory surgery.

• Abdominal ultrasound can be extremely useful for detecting changes in the shape, size, tissue density, internal structure, and position of organs. The exam also can identify abdominal masses or tumors, abdominal fluid, bladder, kidney or bladder stones, and abnormal lymph nodes. Frequently abnormal tissue or fluid is sampled with a needle or biopsy instrument using the guidance of the ultrasound exam. Abdominal ultrasound can also be used to diagnose pregnancy.

• An ultrasound examination is especially helpful for diseases of the heart. It is called an echocardiogram or an "echo." The heart's wall thicknesses can be measured, and the size of its chambers can be determined. Motion can be detected so that an assessment can be made of the ability of the heart to move blood. The valves can be seen to determine if they are functioning properly.