[Exerience with 3000 endoscopies of the upper digestive tract]

A study is presented of over 3,000 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies over a 4 year period. The principal findings were: 1.282 normal 42,73%), 349 gastric ulcers (11,63%), 314 duodenal ulcers (10,47%), and 208 gastric cancers (6,90%). Endoscopy is an important method for the study of upper gastrointestinal tract diseases. Specially for nonconclusive X-ray study, locating the site of a hemorrhage, differentiating between a benign and a malignant lesion, recommending continuation of medical treatment or surgery, and indicating the zone of surgical resection. The routine use for endoscopy should be insisted upon in patients with vague chronic symptoms to increase the diagnosis of incipient lesions. We have obtained more advantages with endoscopy than with X-rays. However, both methods are complementary and give a more certain diagnosis of digestive diseases. It is a method that when done by experts is innocuous and free of complications. Although the cost of the fibroscope instruments is high, the invaluable services they render to gastroenterology more than compensate their cost.