ABSTRACT
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is a minimally invasive, atraumatic technique that permits direct visualization of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestines. In emergency medicine, upper GI endoscopy plays an important diagnostic role in the evaluation of the upper GI tract following caustic injury and acute GI hemorrhage, and a therapeutic role for the removal of foreign bodies. Once the decision is made to incorporate endoscopy into an emergency practice, it is necessary to develop appropriate endoscopic skills. This requires becoming knowledgeable about normal endoscopic anatomy and familiar with the appearance of common lesions. Selection of a flexible GI endoscopy system requires knowledge of the types and sizes of endoscopes available as well as an understanding of the functional components of an endoscope. Additional instrumentation required for endoscopy in the emergency setting include biopsy forceps, cytology brushes, and foreign body retrieval instruments.
