Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
Endoscopic ultrasound is a test used to diagnose and treat diseases of the bile ducts and pancreas, as well as changes in the wall of the stomach and oesophagus. Endoscopic ultrasound is performed using an endoscope with an ultrasound head at the end.
What are the indications for surgery?
The most common indication is the diagnosis of pancreatic and biliary diseases, the imaging of submucosal morphologies of the stomach wall as well as the staging of carcinomatous lesions.
If a lesion is detected, there is also the possibility of taking biopsies using a needle (FNA/FNB) to confirm the diagnosis.
What preparation is needed for the surgery?
Endoscopic ultrasound is not an outpatient examination but you will need to be admitted to hospital.
You should inform the doctor about any medications you are taking (e.g. blood thinners) so that the doctor can advise you if you need to stop taking them.The doctor will explain the nature of the examination and ask you to sign the consent form for the procedure.
In the endoscopy room
Endoscopic ultrasound is performed in the endoscopy room where there is an ultrasound machine.
You will be asked to lie down in the left lateral position on the bed of the X-ray machine before the examination, a venous catheter will be placed in your arm from where sedatives and analgesics will be administered.
The special endoscope is then advanced by the doctor from the mouth to the small intestine, followed by imaging of the intra-abdominal organs using ultrasound. If a lesion is identified, there is the possibility of taking a biopsy using an FNA/FNB needle.
Depending on the difficulty of the operation, the endoscopic ultrasound can last up to half an hour. During this time you will not feel any discomfort because you will be under the influence of sedatives (intoxication).
After the test you will need to lie down for about half an hour and then discuss the results of the test with the doctor. If biopsies are taken, these will be sent for analysis to a pathology laboratory and you will be informed of the results at a later time.
Are there any risks from the test?
The most common complications are the following
- Pancreatitis (1%). This is inflammation of the pancreas and is usually mild. It is manifested by abdominal pain and vomiting a few hours later. In most cases the patient fully recovers in a few days. There is only a risk of pancreatitis if the pancreas is biopsied.
- Bleeding (1-2%). Can occur after a sphincterotomy and usually stops on its own
- Perforation. It is not a particularly common complication. Surgery may be required
