During a colonoscopy, a flexible tube is inserted through the rectum to examine the colon. The camera attached to the end of the tube enables visualisation of the colon and detection of lesions. The examination is performed under anaesthesia.

A colon cleansing must be performed before the colonoscopy. This consists of a residue-free diet and the intake of a colon cleansing preparation a few hours before the examination, which removes the remaining residues and enables a correct examination of the colon. All patients undergoing this examination are duly informed about the preparation on the day of the consultation to schedule the colonoscopy.

The most common indications for colonoscopy include: the detection and treatment of precancerous lesions (polyps) to prevent bowel cancer, the investigation of bleeding in the digestive tract and the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. If necessary, the detected lesions can be removed during the examination, biopsies can be taken or bleeding in the digestive tract can be treated in the same procedure.

During a gastroscopy, a flexible tube is inserted through the mouth to examine the upper digestive tract: oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. This examination can be used to investigate symptoms, take biopsies and/or treat any lesions found. The examination is performed under sedation.

Preparation for this examination only requires that no food is eaten a few hours before the examination and sometimes certain medications must be discontinued. These indications will be explained during the consultation when planning the examination.

Echoendoscopy (endoscopic ultrasound examination) is used to assess various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and neighbouring organs. A probe is inserted into the tube, which produces ultrasound images (sonography). These images enable a precise examination of the pancreas, the gallbladder and its ducts, the liver, the lymph nodes and the lungs. Thanks to their accuracy, it is possible to determine the extent of the tumour in the area of origin (mainly the oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, rectum and some types of lung cancer) and its spread to the surrounding organs. The examination is performed under anaesthesia.

With this procedure, samples of lesions can be taken, which are inserted through the digestive tract with a needle under ultrasound guidance. This is known as "echoendoscopy with fine needle aspiration (FNA) or core needle biopsy (CNB)". The samples taken are analysed in the pathology department to complete the diagnosis.

Echoendoscopy is the most specific test for the detection and investigation of lesions in the pancreas. Clínica Rotger is the reference centre for this procedure in the Quirónsalud health network in the Balearic Islands.

ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) is a type of endoscopy used to treat blockages in the bile and/or pancreatic ducts. A flexible tube is inserted through the mouth into the area of the intestine where these ducts open into the duodenum (papilla). Instruments can be inserted through the papilla to remove stones (lithiasis) blocking the ducts and/or to place prostheses to allow the circulation of bile and pancreatic juices into the duodenum without the need for external scarring or drainage through the skin. This exploration is performed under sedation.

Manipulation of this anatomical area requires at least 24 hours of inpatient post-operative monitoring. Preparation for the procedure is simple and requires only that no food is consumed for a few hours before the examination and that certain medications that could interfere with the examination are discontinued.

The most common indications for this procedure are the presence of choledocholithiasis (stones that have formed in the gallbladder and have entered the common bile duct, blocking it), acute or chronic inflammatory processes of the pancreas (pancreatitis) and obstruction of the ducts by various tumours (pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, ampulloma).

It consists of the removal of lesions with malignant potential that grow in certain areas of the digestive tract. It is an alternative to surgery to remove large lesions (polyps) whilst they are still benign, preserving the integrity of the organ in question. It is mainly used to remove lesions in the colon and rectum, but can also be performed in the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum.

Depending on the location of the lesion, an access is created through the mouth or anus to perform the removal using a special material. The entire procedure is performed under sedation. It is a very safe and effective technique if the lesions fulfil all the requirements for a successful procedure.

At Clínica Rotger, these procedures are carried out by specialised practitioners, both in the selection and in the complete and safe removal of the lesions, so that the patient can be discharged once the procedure is complete.