title: The role of esophagogastroduodenoscopy in the diagnosis and management of upper gastrointestinal disorders.
abstract: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy has revolutionized the clinical management of upper gastrointestinal diseases. Millions of EGDs are performed annually in the United States for many indications, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, dysphagia, or surveillance of premalignant lesions. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is very safe, with a low risk of serious complications such as perforation, cardiopulmonary arrest, or aspiration pneumonia. It is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic test, especially when combined with endoscopic biopsy. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is increasingly being used therapeutically to avoid surgery. New endoscopic technology such as endosonography, endoscopic sewing, and the endoscopic videocapsule will undoubtedly extend the frontiers and increase the indications for endoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Woodhull Medical Center, Department of Medicine, State University of New York, Downstate Medical School, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Mitchell S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cappell
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Friedel
mesh_terms: D016292:Procedural Sedation; D000075202:Contraindications; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal