Difference Between Endoscopy and Laparoscopy

Introduction

During critical abdominal conditions, different methods are used by gastric surgeons for diagnosis. This method is used to find out the cause of the symptoms and for treatment. These methods include endoscopy, gyroscope, laparoscopy, and many more. 

Endoscopy vs. Laparoscopy

Endoscopy is done by an instrument called an endoscope that enters the body through the mouth or anus. While laparoscopy is done with the help of an instrument called a laparoscope, which invents the body through a small incision. 

Difference Between Endoscopy and Laparoscopy in Tabular Form

Basis of comparison	Endoscopy	Laparoscopy
Definition	Endoscopy is the procedure done for the diagnosis of disease inside the body.	Laparoscopy is the procedure of the treatment of a disease diagnosed inside the body.
Instrument Used	Endoscopy is done with the help of an instrument called an endoscope. The endoscope consists of a long flexible tube with a light and a camera at one end.	Laparoscopy is done with the help of an instrument called a laparoscope. The laparoscope consists of a slender tube with a light and a camera at one end.
Passage used	The tube enters the body through the mouth or anus.	Various incisions are made for less than half an inch in the abdomen area for the instrument to enter the body.
Reason	Endoscopy is done for the diagnosis of the disease.	.Laparoscopy is done for the treatment of the disease.
Anesthesia	No anesthesia is required for endoscopy.	Local anesthesia is given to the patient before laparoscopy.
Performed By	Endoscopy can be done by both a physician and a surgeon.	Laparoscopy can be done only by the surgeon.

What is Endoscopy?

Endoscopy is the procedure of diagnosis of disease done by the physician or surgeon with the help of an instrument called an endoscope. The procedure is simple and easy. It is usually done with a conscious patient. 

Endoscopy can be done for the esophagus, stomach, colon, ears, nose, Throat, cervix, uterus, etc. 

Certain reasons for which endoscopy is done are:

1. To diagnose a disease or the cause of symptoms.
2. To screen fast-growing cancer and prevent it.

Types of Endoscopy

There are various types of endoscopy done based on the organ involved in the diagnosis. 

Gastrointestinal Tract

1. Anoscopy is the endoscopy of the anus.

2. Colonoscopy / Sigmoidoscopy is the endoscopy of the large intestine or colon. 

3. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is the endoscopy of the esophagus, duodenum, and stomach.

Respiratory Tract

1. Rhinoscopy is an endoscopy done of the nose. 

2. Bronchoscopy is the endoscopy of the lower respiratory tract. 

Female Reproductive Tract 

Gyroscope is the endoscopy of the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tube.

Advantages of Endoscopy

• Endoscopy helps in early diagnosis of disease or infection. 
• In certain cases of digestive tract infection, treatment can be done by endoscopy.
• It is a safe procedure as no incisions are to be made, nor is any anesthesia involved. 
• It is a quick process. 
• Endoscopy is not painful at all 

Disadvantages of Endoscopy 

• Chances of allergic reactions and infections. 
• No in-depth diagnosis can be done. 

History of Endoscopy 

• The endoscopy was 1st termed by an engineer-optician, Charles Chevaliers, on February 7, 1855.
• The self-illuminated was done by John Macintyre at Glasgow Royals Infirmanncy in Scotland in 1864-65.

Capsule Endoscopy 

This is an advanced endoscopy started in the 1900s.

This method was expected to be a substitute for digestive tract endoscopy. In this endoscopy, a small wireless camera is used. The camera is small enough to fit inside a capsule, mostly a vitamin tablet. As the capsule is swallowed, it travels through the digestive tract, taking several pictures. It was helpful for the endoscopy of the small intestine, which is a complex area. 

The limitation of the procedure was that active control was required for clear visualization and active movement.

Chromoendoscopy 

It is a specialized endoscopy. It used special dyes or stains. These are used to stain the lining of the intestine. This improves the visualization for the doctor to study a body. 

What is Laparoscopy?

Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure done for the treatment of the abdomen and pelvic region. It is done with the help of a small incision made in the skin. The incision is usually smaller than half an inch. Thus it is also called keyhole surgery. It is the treatment procedure done after diagnosis by endoscopy. 

Procedure 

Laparoscopy is a surgical process. It involves the following steps:

1. The patient is asked not to eat anything for 6 hours before the surgery. 
2. General anesthesia is given to the patient. 
3. A small incision is made in the abdomen region. 
4. A laparoscope is inserted inside through this incision.
5. This instrument consists of a thin tube with a light and a camera at one end. The tube is used to pump gas inside the abdomen, which makes it easy to operate. The light and camera help clear vision for the survival operation.
6. The patient is kept overnight in the hospital. 

History 

• The 1st ever laparoscopic surgery was performed on a dog by George Kelling of Germany in 1901.
• The 1st ever laparoscopic surgery was performed on a human by Hans Christian Jacobaeus of Sweden in the year 1910.
• 1st robotics laparoscopic surgery was done on a pig in 2001 with the assistance of humans. 

Types of Laparoscopy 

There are two types of advanced tubes used in the laparoscopy.

1. A telescopic rod lens system is used along with a video camera for laparoscopy.
2. A digital laparoscope is used with a miniature digital camera for videography at the end of the rod.

Reasons for doing Laparoscopy 

Laparoscopy is done for the following reasons:

1. Removal of abdominal mass or tumor.
2. Removal of fluid collected in the abdominal cavity. 
3. To treat liver diseases.
4. To observe the degree of cancer and treat it. 

Micro-Laparoscopy 

Micro-Laparoscopy is the advanced method of laparoscopy, which involves local amnestic and smaller incisions.

Robotics Laparoscopic Surgery 

It is the modern method used for laparoscopic surgery. This method includes various electronic tools. This reduces human error like the shaky hand. It improves the visualization by the use of a large screen, making it easy to operate. It also reduces the number of incisions made. 

Advantages of Laparoscopy 

There are many advantages of laparoscopy over open surgery.

• Reduces the risk of loss of excess blood.
• It causes small incisions, which cause less pain compared to open surgery.
• It reduces the chance of medical complications.
• It reduces the risk caused to internal organs by exposure to external contamination caused by open surgery.
• In many cases, laparoscopic surgeries can be done with local anesthesia, this reduces the risk of effects that can be caused by general anesthesia. 

Disadvantages of Laparoscopy

• Limited range of motion for the doctor to operate freely.
• There is no proper depth perception in laparoscopy.

Main Differences Between Endoscopy and Laparoscopy in Points 

• Endoscopy is the procedure of diagnosis of disease done by the physician or surgeon with the help of an instrument called an endoscope. The instrument consists of a long flexible tube with a light and a camera on one end. While laparoscopy is a surgical procedure for the treatment of a disease done with the help of an instrument called laparoscopy. The instrument consists of a slender tube with a camera and light on one end. 
• During an endoscopy, the patient is usually conscious. While in laparoscopy, the patient is given general anesthesia. 
• Endoscopy can be done by a surgeon as well as a physician. While laparoscopy can be on,y done by a surgeon.
• Endoscopy can be done without any cut on the body, while laparoscopy requires an incision of less than half an inch. 
• Endoscopy results in mild discomfort and soreness in the throat of the patient. Laparoscopy rest in pain due to the incision. 

• Endoscopy is done for the diagnosis of the disease or the cause of the symptoms. At the same time, laparoscopy is done for the treatment of diseases like the removal of tumors or excess fluid. 
• The patient is not required to stay overnight in the hospital after the endoscopy. In contrast, the patient is required to stay overnight after the laparoscopy. 

Conclusion 

As we learned, endoscopy and laparoscopy are both methods of medical surgery. Endoscopy is used for diagnosis, and laparoscopy is used for treatment. Both methods cause the least damage to the human body. As the world is moving ahead in technological avouchment, there are more and more chances to develop less harm-causing surgical methods in the future.