Description of the process:

During the EUS test, a thin andflexible tube, about 1.3cm in diameter (Sonoscope) is inserted through themouth into the esophagus, the stomach and duodenum. The sonoscope contains atiny camera at its end and an optical fiber inside, like in every endoscope, aswell as an additional ultrasound transducer. During the test a light isprojected through the gastroscope into the digestive system, and the videotaken by the camera is screened on the screens before the doctor who views them– on both the ultrasound screen as well as on the screen of the endoscopictest. If an action is required such as taking a biopsy (FNA/FNB), the doctorinserts the appropriate needle through the working chamber of the sonoscope andperforms the procedure while looking at the screen.

During the procedure the patient is usually positioned on the left side and a plastic guard is placed in between the teeth in order to keep the mouth open during the test. The test is performed under sedation, meaning light-mild sedation, so that the patient feels nothing during the procedure which will begin only after the patient is sedated. As such, the patient is connected to monitoring devices throughout the examination which allow the treating staff to monitor breathing, saturation, heart rhythm and blood pressure.

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Duration of the procedure:

About 20 to 45 minutes.