Endoscopic Ultrasound is a procedure performed in conjunction with either an EGD or a colonoscopy and is used to obtain images and information about the digestive tract and surrounding tissue and organs. Images obtained through EUS are frequently more accurate and more detailed than the ones obtained by traditional ultrasound. The EUS also can obtain information about the layers of the intestinal wall as well as adjacent areas such as lymph nodes and the blood vessels. Other uses of EUS include studying the flow of blood inside blood vessels using Doppler ultrasound, and to obtain tissue samples by passing a special needle, under ultrasound guidance, into enlarged lymph nodes or suspicious tumors.
As EUS is utilized with another endoscopic procedure, it will require moderate sedation and a short recovery period. This procedure can take up to two hours. You should expect to spend three to five hours in the Endoscopy department.