ABPS GI Endoscopy study guide
ABPS GI Endoscopy · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) is a nationally recognized, multi-specialty certifying body that offers board certification to both allopathic and osteopathic physicians, and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy appears among its listed specialty certifications. Certification is a voluntary process, but ABPS describes its eligibility requirements as stringent and its certification process as notably rigorous; the organization certified its first physician in 1960, and its Diplomates now practice across all 50 states as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. The ABPS GI Endoscopy study guide has 10 sections and about 2,965 words.
01Pre-procedural Assessment, Informed Consent, and Bowel Preparation
Pre-procedural assessment begins with the indication: will the result change management? Document alarm features (dysphagia, weight loss, bleeding, anemia, altered bowel habit) and a focused cardiopulmonary history, including obstructive sleep apnea, prior sedation reactions, allergies, pregnancy, and antithrombotic use.
318 words, about 2 min02Moderate Sedation and Patient Monitoring
Moderate sedation is a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which the patient responds purposefully to verbal commands or light tactile stimulation, maintains a patent airway, and has adequate spontaneous ventilation. The same drugs can produce deep sedation or general anesthesia, so the provider must be prepared to rescue one level deeper.
328 words, about 2 min03Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Technique and Findings
Upper endoscopy is a structured examination, not a quick look. Confirm fasting (6-8 hours solids, 2 hours clear liquids), consent, and the antithrombotic plan.
280 words, about 1 min04Colonoscopy, Colorectal Cancer Screening, and Surveillance
Colonoscopy quality is measured, not assumed. Cecal intubation should exceed 90% (85% in screening), with photo documentation of the appendiceal orifice and ileocecal valve; terminal ileum intubation is desirable in selected cases.
329 words, about 2 min05Endoscopic Hemostasis and Therapeutic Intervention
Endoscopic hemostasis starts with physiology: resuscitate, correct coagulopathy, and treat the underlying cause. For nonvariceal upper GI bleeding, Forrest classification drives therapy.
298 words, about 1 min06ERCP and Pancreaticobiliary Endoscopy
ERCP should be performed when a biliary or pancreatic intervention is likely, not merely to image. Common indications include choledocholithiasis with obstruction, ascending cholangitis, malignant biliary obstruction, postoperative bile leak, and selected pancreatic disease.
298 words, about 1 min07Endoscopic Ultrasound
Endoscopic ultrasound answers questions that cross-sectional imaging cannot: pancreatic masses and cysts, subepithelial lesions, biliary strictures, and locoregional staging of esophageal, gastric, and rectal cancer. Radial echoendoscopes provide 360-degree images and are best for staging and anatomical survey.
273 words, about 1 min08Small Bowel and Advanced Endoscopic Techniques
Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is the first-line test for obscure GI bleeding after negative upper and lower endoscopy, and it is useful for suspected Crohn disease, celiac disease, polyposis syndromes, and NSAID enteropathy. A patency capsule should precede VCE when stricture is suspected; capsule retention occurs in about 1-2% and is higher in Crohn disease.
281 words, about 1 min09Infection Prevention and Endoscope Reprocessing
Flexible endoscopes are semicritical devices and require high-level disinfection. The chain has no weak link: bedside pre-cleaning (wipe the insertion tube, flush channels with detergent) prevents biofilm; leak testing detects damage before immersion; manual cleaning with brushes and enzymatic detergent removes organic soil; rinsing follows; then high-level disinfection with an appropriate agent (glutaraldehyde, ortho-phthalaldehyde, peracetic acid, or others), a final rinse with filtered or sterile water, alcohol flush, forced-air drying, and vertical storage in a drying cabinet.
274 words, about 1 min10Complications, Documentation, and Endoscopy Practice Management
Recognize complications early. Perforation presents with pain, distension, or subcutaneous emphysema; management depends on site and stability-clips or endoscopic closure for small iatrogenic defects, surgery for large or unstable perforations.
286 words, about 1 min