Endoscopy

We undertake more than 3,500 endoscopies each year, making TAC the largest independent endoscopy unit in Scotland.

Our Endoscopy team are specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the stomach and intestines. We undertake more than 3,500 endoscopies each year, making TAC the largest independent endoscopy unit in Scotland.

Whether you need a routine test or more in-depth assessments, our multidisciplinary team will work together to provide you with the best personalised care. With the latest diagnostic and endoscopic technology available, we can offer faster diagnosis to everyone who comes to us for care. The wide range of conditions we treat includes Crohn’s disease, pancreatic cancer, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gallstones and stomach tumours, ulcers and gastro-oesophageal reflux.

An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of the body is examined using an endoscope. This instrument is a long thin flexible tube that has a light source and camera at the end. Images are then relayed onto a television screen.

UPPER ENDOSCOPY

An upper endoscopy is used to diagnose and sometimes treat conditions that affect the upper part of the digestive system, including the oesophagus, stomach and beginning of the small intestine (duodenum).

This procedure can determine the cause of gastrointestinal disorders and symptoms including heartburn, difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, unexplained anaemia/ weight loss, upper GI bleeding and indigestion.

COLONOSCOPY

A colonoscopy is a visual examination of the entire large intestine (colon). This examination is used to explore possible causes of abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, chronic diarrhoea and other intestinal problems. A colonoscopy is also used as a method of screening for colon cancer.

CAPSULE ENDOSCOPY

Wireless capsule endoscopy is a relatively new type of endoscopy. It involves swallowing a capsule that’s able to wirelessly transmit images of the inside of the stomach and digestive system.

The capsule is the size of a large pill and leaves your body naturally when you go to the toilet. It is often used to investigate internal bleeding in the digestive system when there’s no obvious cause.

The Aberdeen Clinic has pioneered this technique in Scotland as an alternative to standard colonoscopy.

FLEXIBLE SIGMOIDOSCOPY

A sigmoidoscopy is an internal examination of the lower part of the large intestine (colon) using a short, thin flexible tube.

This examination is used to examine the inner lining of the rectum and the lower part of the colon to explore possible causes of gut problems such as abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and changes in bowel habits.