"Endoscopy is a procedure whereby the body is examined internally using an endoscope. It is most commonly used for gastrointestinal, urinary and renal conditions. Endoscopy is usually carried out while a person is awake. Before the procedure, a sedative (medication that has a calming effect) may be given to help the patient relax. An endoscope is a thin, long, flexible tube that has a light source and a video camera at one end. Images of the inside of your body are relayed to an external television screen. Endoscopes can be inserted into the body through a natural opening, such as through the throat or anus. Alternatively, it can be inserted through a small surgical incision (cut) that is made in the skin. Endoscopy is a critical part of every gastroenterologist's skill sets, and forms a core part of GI training in both residency and fellowship training (US) and foundation and registrar/senior registrar training (UK). The majority of GI symptoms referred to a gastroenterologist require endoscopy in some form in order to reach a diagnosis. In addition to being a diagnostic procedure, endoscopy has developed over the last 10 years to become one of the principle treatment methods available"-- Provided by publisher.