Final answer:
Flexible endoscopy, or FEES, offers several advantages such as being non-invasive, reducing infection risk, providing accurate diagnostics, increasing surgical precision, and enabling therapeutic interventions. The use of fiber optics allows for navigating difficult-to-reach areas and performing precise and effective procedures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Flexible endoscopy, also referred to as fiber optic endoscopy or FEES (Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing), has several advantages that benefit both the medical provider performing the procedure and the patient. Here are five benefits:
- Non-invasive nature: Compared to traditional surgical methods, endoscopies are less invasive since they only require small incisions or entry through natural orifices.
Reduced risk of infection: With smaller incisions or using natural orifices, the risk of postoperative infection decreases.
- Accurate diagnostics: Endoscopes can navigate difficult-to-reach regions within the body, providing high-definition images for better diagnosis.
- Increased precision: The use of an endoscope allows for more precise surgical procedures, like removing intestinal polyps or conducting arthroscopic surgery.
- Therapeutic applications: Endoscopes are used to perform various therapeutic interventions, such as burning away arterial plaques with a laser or activating chemotherapy drugs with light.
While there are always risks associated with medical procedures, including endoscopy, the use of fiber optics enables healthcare professionals to provide effective and safer care. Although it's important to weigh the risks against the benefits carefully, the ability of endoscopic procedures to diagnose and treat with minimal invasiveness contributes to their widespread use, improving patient outcomes.