Endoscopy Course

Lesson 1 • History and Scope of Endoscopy

Traces endoscopy from rigid scopes to modern flexible systems. Establishes clinical relevance and the breadth of diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Lesson 2 • Core Endoscopic Equipment Overview

Introduces flexible endoscopes, light sources, processors, and monitors. Provides the equipment literacy needed before hands-on training begins.

Lesson 3 • Endoscopy Unit Layout and Workflow

Describes physical design of an endoscopy suite and patient flow. Connects unit organization to procedural efficiency and infection control.

Lesson 4 • Patient Safety and Risk Stratification

Covers pre-procedure risk assessment, contraindications, and informed consent. Establishes a safety-first mindset carried through all subsequent chapters.

Lesson 1 • Reprocessing Quality Assurance

Introduces audit tools, microbiological surveillance, and documentation standards. Quality assurance closes the loop between reprocessing practice and patient outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Endoscope Reprocessing Steps

Details the sequential reprocessing cycle from bedside pre-cleaning to storage. Each step is linked to its role in achieving high-level disinfection.

Lesson 3 • Automated Endoscope Reprocessors

Explains operation, validation, and troubleshooting of automated reprocessing systems. Connects automated cycles to consistent disinfection outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Pre-Sedation Patient Assessment

Covers airway evaluation, fasting requirements, and comorbidity screening before sedation. Thorough assessment prevents sedation-related complications.

Lesson 2 • Post-Procedure Recovery and Discharge

Establishes criteria for safe recovery room discharge after sedation. Structured discharge criteria prevent post-sedation adverse events outside the unit.

Lesson 3 • Intraoperative Monitoring Standards

Defines required monitoring parameters and alarm thresholds during sedation. Continuous monitoring enables early detection of physiological deterioration.

Lesson 4 • Sedation Levels and Pharmacology

Distinguishes minimal, moderate, deep sedation, and general anesthesia. Pharmacological profiles of common agents guide drug selection and dosing decisions.

Lesson 1 • Duodenal Intubation and Examination

Guides pyloric passage, bulb inspection, and second-part duodenum visualization. Complete duodenal examination requires controlled scope advancement.

Lesson 2 • Patient Positioning and Scope Insertion

Covers left lateral decubitus positioning, mouthguard placement, and initial scope introduction. Correct setup reduces patient discomfort and insertion trauma.

Lesson 3 • Esophageal Examination

Teaches systematic inspection of the esophageal mucosa, Z-line, and gastroesophageal junction. Recognising normal variants prevents misdiagnosis.

Lesson 4 • Documentation and Reporting Standards

Establishes photo documentation requirements and structured report writing for upper GI endoscopy. Accurate reports support clinical decision-making and audit.

Lesson 1 • Colonoscope Insertion Techniques

Covers rectal insertion, loop prevention, and segment-by-segment advancement to the caecum. Loop management is the primary determinant of cecal intubation success.

Lesson 2 • Systematic withdrawal technique

Establishes minimum withdrawal time standards and segment-by-segment mucosal inspection. Withdrawal quality directly determines adenoma detection rate.

Lesson 3 • Colonoscopy complications and management

Identifies perforation, bleeding, and post-polypectomy syndrome with immediate management steps. Early recognition prevents escalation to surgical intervention.

Lesson 4 • Bowel preparation assessment

Evaluates bowel preparation quality using validated scales and determines procedural adequacy. Poor preparation recognition guides repeat scheduling decisions.

Lesson 1 • Specimen handling and fixation

Details correct specimen retrieval, fixative selection, and labelling to preserve diagnostic integrity. Handling errors invalidate histopathological results.

Lesson 2 • Pathology communication and follow-up

Establishes workflows for receiving pathology results and communicating findings to referring clinicians. Closed-loop communication prevents missed diagnoses.

Lesson 3 • Targeted biopsy protocols

Applies disease-specific biopsy protocols for Barrett's esophagus, coeliac disease, and colitis surveillance. Protocol adherence maximises diagnostic yield.

Lesson 1 • Endoscopic haemostasis methods

Teaches injection, mechanical, and thermal haemostasis for GI bleeding lesions. Combining modalities improves haemostatic success rates.

Lesson 2 • Esophageal and pyloric dilation

Details balloon and bougie dilation for strictures in the esophagus and pylorus. Graded dilation minimises perforation risk while restoring luminal patency.

Lesson 3 • Enteral stent placement

Introduces self-expanding metal stent deployment for malignant and benign obstructions. Fluoroscopic and endoscopic guidance principles are both addressed.

Lesson 4 • Polypectomy techniques

Covers cold snare, hot snare, and endoscopic mucosal resection for polyp removal. Technique selection is based on polyp size, morphology, and location.

Lesson 1 • Continuous professional development

Establishes pathways for maintaining and advancing endoscopic competency through simulation, proctoring, and credentialing. Ongoing development sustains procedural quality over a career.

Lesson 2 • Artificial intelligence in endoscopy

Introduces AI-assisted polyp detection and lesion characterisation tools integrated into endoscopy systems. Understanding AI outputs enables clinicians to use and critically evaluate these tools.

Lesson 3 • Endoscopy quality metrics and auditing

Defines a comprehensive quality indicator framework and audit cycle for endoscopy units. Regular auditing identifies performance gaps and drives targeted improvement.

Lesson 4 • Advanced endoscopic imaging modalities

Covers narrow-band imaging, chromoendoscopy, and confocal endomicroscopy for enhanced mucosal characterisation. Advanced imaging improves lesion detection and characterisation accuracy.