Panendoscopy

A panendoscopy is a test to look at:

• your mouth

• your throat

• the back of your nose

• your voice box (larynx)

• the top of your food pipe (oesophagus)

Your doctor may also look at the top of your windpipe (trachea).

You have a panendoscopy under a general anaesthetic. This means you are asleep for the test.

Why you might have a panendoscopy

Your doctor may do this test if other tests have shown an abnormal area in your mouth, nose or throat and they need to be able to see it more clearly. Or you might have it if your doctor needs to take a biopsy . 

This is a common test if you have symptoms that could be due to head and neck cancer. 

Before your panendoscopy

About a week or so before your panendoscopy you usually have a pre assessment appointment. This prepares you for your test. You meet members of your treatment team at this appointment.

Your doctor or nurse will tell you what you need to do on the day. This includes instructions about when to stop eating and drinking, and whether to stop taking any of your medicines. And what time to arrive. You might also sign your consent form at this appointment. Or you might do this on the day of your test.  

It helps to write down any questions you have and take them with you. The more you know about what is going to happen, the less worrying it will seem. You can ask more questions when you go into hospital so don’t worry if you forget to ask some.

How do you have a panendoscopy?

You usually have this test as a day procedure with a general anaesthetic in the operating theatre. This means you are asleep for the test.

Your doctor does this test through the mouth. They look through one end of the endoscope and there is a camera and light at the other. They can look around your mouth, throat, voice box, the back of your nose, and the top of your food pipe. They might also pass a different, thinner endoscope through your nose to have a closer look at the back of the nose.

If there are any abnormal areas, they usually take a biopsy. The biopsy goes to the laboratory to be looked at under a microscope.

After the test, you go to the recovery area. A nurse will look after you until you wake up and are ready to return to the ward.

Having a panendoscopy can take between 45 to 60 minutes. But you might be in the operating department for about 1 to 2 hours, including the time in the recovery unit. 

After your panendoscopy

You can go home after you have recovered from the anaesthetic. This is usually on the same day, but sometimes you might need to stay overnight.  

Having a panendoscopy is usually a safe procedure. Your nurse will tell you who to contact if you have any problems after your test. 

Possible problems include:

A sore throat

A sore throat is common after having a panendoscopy and can last a few days. Ask your nurse what you can take to help relieve this.

A stiff neck

You may have a stiff neck after the test because of the position you were in on the theatre table. This should settle a few days after the test.

Bleeding

If you had a biopsy you may notice blood in your saliva for a couple of days after you test. This is usually a small amount and usually stops on its own. Contact your hospital advice if the bleeding gets worse.

Possible damage to your teeth and gums

As you have this test through your mouth there is a small risk of damaging your teeth and gums. To help reduce the risk your surgeon may protect your teeth with a guard during your surgery.

A tear in your food pipe

Rarely, there can be a small tear (perforation) of your food pipe. You might need surgery to repair the tear.

Getting your results

You should get your results within 1 or 2 weeks. 

Waiting for results can make you anxious. Ask your doctor or nurse how long it will take to get them. Contact the doctor who arranged the test if you haven’t heard anything after a couple of weeks.

You might have contact details for a specialist nurse who you can contact for information if you need to. It may help to talk to a close friend or relative about how you feel. You may want them to go with you to get the results for support.