Endoscopy services
We offer modern endoscopy services in comfortable facilities, led by Gastroenterologists, Surgeons and Nurses who will make your stay as stress-free as possible.
An endoscopy is an inspection of body organs or cavities using a flexible tube with a camera and light attached. Mater Private Hospital Townsville provides access to the two most common types of endoscopy -colonoscopy and gastroscopy.
These procedures are generally performed as a day procedure, involving only a short period of sedation, with patients admitted just prior to the procedure. This allows for minimal waiting time and disruption to the patient's schedule.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a procedure that allows a Doctor to examine the inside lining of your large bowel. The doctor will use a colonoscope - a long, thin flexible tube with a small camera and light attached, to see pictures of the inside of your bowel on a video screen.
The colonoscope bends so that it can move around the curves of your colon. It can also be used to remove growths or polyps, which are fleshy growths in the bowel lining. A colonoscopy can also be used to take a biopsy, a very small section of the bowel lining, which can be tested to identify many conditions.
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Gastroscopy
A gastroscopy is a procedure that allows a doctor to examine the lining of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The doctor will use a gastroscope, a small, flexible fibre optic instrument, to pass through the mouth to allow a direct visual inspection of the oesophagus (gullet), stomach and duodendum (small bowel).
A gastroscopy can also be used to take a biopsy, a very small section of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, which can be tested to identify a range of conditions.