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An inspiration from history: Why would a doctor be inspired by a sword-swallower?
In the medical world, an endoscopy is a procedure used to examine the inside of the human body. This technique uses an endoscope to examine the inside of hollow organs in the body. Unlike many other medical imaging techniques, the endoscope is inserted directly into the organ for inspection. As this technology has evolved, a variety of endoscopic procedures have emerged that were inspired by a remarkable performing art: the sword swallower.
These brave sword swallowers' ability to swallow swords down their throats without vomiting inspired one doctor to think about how he could use the technique for internal examinations.
The history of endoscopy
The history of endoscopy dates back to the mid-19th century, when German doctor Adolf Kussmaul was inspired by the idea of the sword-swallower. Their ability to easily swallow swords into their throats led Kusma'ur to explore methods of inserting a hollow tube into the throat. Initially, they had to rely on the light provided by candles and oil lamps. As time went by, in 1845, French health officer Désormeaux created the urethral endoscope, and in 1848, the British medical community used more advanced endoscopic technology.
In 1894, John Macintyre of Glasgow Royal Infirmary developed a self-illuminating endoscope. He focused on throat examination, which was an important milestone in the development of endoscopy.
Medical uses of endoscopes
Endoscopy is commonly used to diagnose and treat digestive system problems such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, and gastrointestinal bleeding. This procedure can perform biopsies to check for conditions such as anemia, bleeding, inflammation, and gastrointestinal cancers. At the same time, endoscopy can also be used for procedures such as stopping bleeding, dilating a narrowed esophagus, removing polyps, or removing foreign objects.
Many people with Barrett's esophagus should not have endoscopies too frequently because excessive testing may pose unnecessary risks, a professional group for digestive problems has advised.
Application scope of endoscope
The application fields of endoscopes are quite wide, including but not limited to the following parts:
- Digestive tract (esophagus, stomach and duodenum)
- Small intestine, large intestine (colonoscopy, proctoscopy)
- Respiratory tract (laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy)
- Urinary system (cystoscopy)
- Female reproductive system (colposcopy, hysteroscopy)
- Intra-articular (arthroscopy)
Progress in endoscopic technology
Modern endoscopes serve a variety of functions, including performing resections, tissue biopsies, and other minimally invasive procedures. These technologies improve doctors' flexibility and accuracy when performing abdominal surgeries. The medical team is able to perform metabolic surgery with minimal pain and recovery time for the patient.
Risks and Precautions
Although endoscopy is generally considered a safe procedure, there are still some risks, such as infection, excessive sedation, or perforation and bleeding of the esophageal or stomach wall. However, the incidence of these conditions is relatively low, and most minor bleeding can stop spontaneously or be controlled with hemostatic management.
Many patients may experience a slight sore throat after surgery, often due to intubation during the procedure, and occasionally abdominal discomfort, but these usually improve quickly.
Care after endoscopy
After the endoscopic procedure, the medical team will continue to monitor the patient to ensure that they recover safely after the anesthesia wears off. Patients are able to leave the medical facility on their own if sedation is not used. However, if sedation is used, medical institutions will ask the patient to be taken home with someone to prevent them from driving or operating machinery that day.
Conclusion
As an important medical examination and treatment tool, endoscopy not only involves applications in the medical field, but its modernization in other technical fields is also ongoing. The technique was inspired by sword-swallowing performances and continues to guide medical advancements to this day. In what directions will endoscopic technology develop in the future?
