Endoscopy

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Your comfort, care and safety are foremost on the minds of our skilled professionals in endoscopy services. Whether you're coming to our department as an inpatient or outpatient, we want to make sure your visit in our hospital's surgical center is as pleasant as possible.

Endoscopy services

Endoscopy is a medical procedure in which a scope with a light and camera on the end is used to see inside your organs. A colonoscope is used to view the colon and large intestine, for example. A gastroscope is used to view the stomach and duodenum, which is the beginning of the small intestine.

An endoscopic procedure can be used to screen for disease, such as cancer. It also can be part of the treatment, such as removing polyps or stopping bleeding.

The Endoscopy Department at Maui Memorial Medical Center (MMMC) uses a wide variety of endoscopes for procedures, including:

• Screening for colon cancer.
• Looking for abnormalities in the digestive system.
• Looking for stomach cancer.
• Removing polyps.
• Looking for esophageal cancer.

A skilled team of endoscopy professionals

When you have an endoscopy at MMMC, you will be cared for by an experienced team of professionals. In addition to your doctor or surgeon, your team will include a certified gastrointestinal (GI) assistant and nurse experienced in gastroenterology and endoscopy procedures. Depending on your procedure, a board-certified anesthesiologist also might be on hand to administer sedation.

MMMC's suites for procedures are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. We are based in the hospital, so in the unlikely event that a complication arises treatment can take place right here.

Infection prevention is our highest priority, and we maintain high-level disinfectant practices.

What to expect

When you choose Maui Health for a GI procedure, you'll have your own private room where a nurse and nurse aide will help prepare you. If your procedure requires an anesthesiologist, he or she will check in with you to discuss sedation. Also, your doctor will ask if you have any last-minute questions.

Depending on the procedure, you can expect to be out of the procedure room within 15 minutes to one hour.

We have a large waiting area for your family and support people. The waiting area has a status board that allows your loved ones to see where you're at in the process. After your procedure, our team will update the person you've designated.

We'll also discuss the findings of the procedure with you before you leave, and provide thorough discharge and follow-up instructions.

Check your risk for colorectal cancer

Some risk factors for colorectal cancer you can change; others you can't. But even for risk factors you can't modify, just being aware of them may help you and your doctor decide when and how often you should be screened for the disease.