Stopping bleeding
- Ulcer bleeding: injection, clips or heat treatment through the scope
- Variceal bleeding in liver disease: band ligation (banding) or glue injection for stomach varices
- Bleeding from abnormal blood vessels or after polyp removal
Vomiting blood, or black tarry stools with dizziness, is an emergency. Go to the nearest emergency department or call 108.
Widening narrowings
Balloon or bougie dilatation for narrowings of the food pipe, stomach outlet or bowel, caused by acid damage, surgery, radiation or other conditions.
Stents
Self-expanding metal stents to keep the food pipe, stomach outlet, bowel or bile duct open, often to relieve blockage from a tumour.
Food bolus and foreign bodies
Removal of food stuck in the food pipe and swallowed objects. Button batteries, magnets and sharp objects need emergency removal, especially in children.
Feeding tubes (PEG)
A PEG tube placed through the skin into the stomach under endoscopic guidance, for people who can't eat enough by mouth for a long period.
Other endoscopic resections
Removal of early lesions and large polyps by EMR; other advanced resection techniques where appropriate.