The Difference between Third Space Endoscopy and Laparoscopy

You’ve likely heard about third space endoscopy and laparoscopy several times recently. Do you know that these two procedures are completely different?

Modern medicine has advanced significantly over the past century. Each year, modern science makes tremendous strides in making treatments more accessible and effective by reducing time and increasing patient comfort. Many people fear visiting the doctor simply because they believe they might undergo painful treatments and procedures. While avoiding pain is a natural human tendency, it is sometimes crucial to consult a doctor promptly to prevent further complications.

With the help of modern technologies and medical innovations, painful procedures or surgeries are now performed with minimal invasiveness and faster recovery times. Third space endoscopies are one of these techniques that eliminate the need for skin incisions, significantly reducing pain and healing time.

But what is the difference between a third space endoscopy and a laparoscopy? Aren't they the same thing? Although these procedures are often confused, they are not identical.

Laparoscopy gets its name from the tool used for this type of surgery, a laparoscope. It is a long, thin instrument with a camera and light at its tip. The laparoscope is inserted into the body through a tiny incision. Doctors can view what is happening inside the body on a screen with the help of the camera. 

Multiple incisions are made, typically no longer than 2 cm each, through which the camera and surgical tools are inserted. Before laparoscopy, surgeons had to make incisions up to 6 cm long to provide them with adequate visibility inside the body.

Third space endoscopy also gets its name from the tool used in the procedure, an endoscope. The endoscope has a camera and light attached to the end of a long, flexible tube inserted into the body, allowing the gastroenterologist to see what is wrong inside the body and correct it through spaces within the wall of the digestive tract. The endoscope is inserted into the body through the mouth, passing through the throat and into the esophagus to examine the upper digestive tract or the rectum to inspect the colon area.

1. No skin incisions are made during the third space endoscopy. Natural openings such as the mouth or the anal canal are used to view the organs inside the body. In contrast, a laparoscopy involves making small surgical incisions to perform the surgery.

2. Third space endoscopy does not require the patient to stay hospitalized overnight. However, with a laparoscopy, the patient typically stays in the hospital for a few days.

3. Third space endoscopy is performed by a gastroenterologist, whereas only a surgeon can perform laparoscopy.

4. In third space endoscopy, the patient may experience a sore throat or mild discomfort in the digestive tract. In contrast, with laparoscopy, the patient suffers from pain caused by the small incisions made during the procedure.

5. A patient undergoing Third Space Endoscopy does not need to have a drain placed or follow up on wound dressings, as there are no external incisions.

6. Recovery time is significantly shorter with third-space endoscopy compared to laparoscopy.

Third space endoscopy services are now offered in Egypt by Dr. Shaimaa El Kholy, Associate Professor of Advanced Interventional Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESD & Third Space Endoscopy), Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. These services serve gastrointestinal patients for treating esophageal disorders and achalasia and detecting and treating gastrointestinal tumors.