Endoscopes can be used to perform a surgical procedure where it will be passed through small incisions to view the internal organs and help guide the surgeon throughout the surgery. There are different types of endoscopic procedure Dr Moodley can perform, namely:

• Upper GI Endoscopy: This is a non-surgical procedure that is performed to diagnose and treat problems that may occur in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The upper GI tract consists of the oesophagus (the food pipe), the stomach, and the first part of the small intestine called the duodenum.
  An upper GI endoscopy may be indicated to diagnose and treat the following upper GI tract conditions:
  • - Trouble swallowing
  • - Unexplained weight loss
  • - Narrowing or blockages
  • - Malignant (cancerous) or benign(noncancerous) tumours
  • - Crohn’s disease of the upper GI tract
  • - Bleeding in the upper GI tract
  • - Continuous vomiting due to an unknown reason
  • - Control bleeding
  
  How this procedure is performed depends on your condition. During the procedure, an IV line will be inserted in your arm or hand, and sedative medicine will be injected in the IV. Numbing medicine will be sprayed into the back of your throat to prevent you from gagging when the endoscope is passed down your throat to your stomach and into the duodenum.
  
  Samples of fluid or tissue will be taken, and other procedures like removing a blockage may also be done. After the procedure, the tube will be removed, and the samples will be taken to the laboratory for testing.

• Colonoscopy: This is a non-surgical procedure done to examine and detect changes or abnormalities in the colon/large intestine and the rectum. A colonoscopy can be recommended to:
  
  • - Investigate intestinal signs and symptoms such as abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, chronic constipation, chronic diarrhoea and other problems that can occur in the intestines.
  • - Screen for colon cancer
  • -Examine the intestine for the presence of polyps.
  
  During a colonoscopy procedure, a sedative will be administered intravenously. The procedure is performed while you are lying on your side, and Dr Moodley will insert a flexible tube called a colonoscope, in your rectum. He will inflate the colon with carbon dioxide to help provide a better view of the lining of the colon. Tissue samples will be taken, or a procedure will be done.

• Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreaticogram (ERCP): :This is a procedure which combines the upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and x-rays in order to treat problems that may occur in the bile and pancreatic ducts.
  

  An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatic (ERCP) can be indicated the bile or pancreatic ducts are narrowed or blocked due to:

  • - The formation of gallstones in the gallbladder
  • - An infection
  • - Acute pancreatitis
  • - Chronic pancreatitis
  • - Bile or pancreatic ducts trauma or surgical complications
  • - Bile duct tumours or cancer
  • - Pancreas tumour or cancer
  
  During the procedure, your throat will be sprayed with local anaesthesia, to numb your throat and prevent you from choking. Sedative medicine will be administered through an IV. Dr Moodley will insert an endoscope in your mouth and will pass it down the oesophagus to the stomach and duodenum. Carbon dioxide will be inflated into your stomach so that the lining of your stomach will be more visible. Tiny surgical tools will be passed through the endoscope to open blocked or narrowed ducts, break up or remove stones, perform a biopsy, to insert ERCP stent, or to remove tumours in the ducts.