Role Of Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)

Hello Everybody!

I am Dr. Kunal Das and I am the principal consultant, department of gastroenterology, endoscopy. I am an expert on endoscopic ultrasound and today will talk about endoscopic ultrasound and its role in various diseases. Endoscopic ultrasound is a new tool which is combining 2 powerful procedures endoscopy and ultrasound. Endoscopic ultrasound was discovered 20 years ago where it was mostly used as the research tool. Endoscopic ultrasound plays a very important role in GI interventions.

Endoscopic ultrasound is basically an endoscope which is of 2 types. Radial and linear scope. The radial scope is one which is more rounded in corrector. It helps to diagnose various diseases like stones, GI. The 2nd type of scope is linear scope in which the plain of endoscopic ultrasound towards the axis of the scope and the advantage of the linear endoscope is that it can be used to with fine needle aspiration and GI interventions. This is used in various diseases. Endoscopic ultrasound is of great utility in the diagnosis of bile duct stones, pancreatic, adenocarcinoma. With this kind of scope these are the most important causes utilizing the end staging of upper GI.

It is the most important scope and diagnostic ability for pancreatic diseases. With newer techniques we can do pancreatic fine needle aspiration, fine needle biopsy which helps us in diagnosis of pancreatic cancers and hence, we can start chemotherapy. Also, there are newer techniques in endoscopic guidance for GI interventions. In angiotherapy, we use endoscopic ultrasound as a guide. We can do fine needle injections of chemotherapy of radiofrequency ablation of pancreatic cancers. Also, newer techniques, US techniques gastroenterostomy, where US guidance use to make a cannal between the stomach and the GI. The gallbladder is accessed from the GI tract and we put in a metallic strength between the gallbladder.

So, in those cases it has been found that it is of great usage instead of gallbladder drainage has been coming out in a great way. So, we find that endoscopic ultrasound is only a research tool. It is important in all of the GI centres so because of its utility diagnostic and therapeutic usage at this time. We also find that in certain cases where there is the mismatch or ERCP which cannot be done. Endoscopic ultrasound is a very important tool in the management of upper GI, like pancreatic cancers, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, chemotherapy. And today it is the essential tool for the management of GI in our practice.

Thank You.