Interventional Endoscopy

Interventional endoscopy (IE) involves the use of endoscopic equipment with other contemporary imaging modalities, such as fluoroscopy and/or ultrasound, to perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in virtually any part of the body accessed endoscopically (gastrointestinal, biliary, respiratory, urinary tract, etc).

The combination of endosocpy and fluoroscopy allows for visualization and access into small orifices that would otherwise require more invasive surgical technique. A good example of this is the placement of a biliary stent into the common bile duct via the major duodenal papilla with endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance. Many of these interventional procedures are considered the standard-of-care in human medicine, and are currently being investigated in veterinary medicine. The uses of these techniques are expanding as these modalities are becoming more widely available.

The advantages of the use of IE are the minimally invasive nature of the procedures resulting in lower morbidity, shorter hospital stays and sometimes even the lack of alternative options.

 Current Veterinary Applications...