Gastroscopy why have one

Accessed Aug. Understanding upper endoscopy. American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Feldman M, et al. Preparation for and complications of gastrointestinal endoscopy. Philadelphia, Pa. Goldman L, et al.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Elsevier; The Merck Manual Professional Edition. Upper GI Endoscopy. Picco MF expert opinion.

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The information gained during your procedure may reveal a cause for your symptoms and will assist your doctor in further treatment. Gastroscopy is also used to treat conditions of the upper GI tract. Your doctor can pass small instruments through the endoscope to directly treat many abnormalities with little or no discomfort. For example, your doctor might stretch a narrowed area, take biopsies tissue samples for laboratory testing or treat bleeding. An empty stomach is essential for a safe and accurate examination, so you should have nothing to eat or drink, including water, for approximately six hours before the examination.

Please ring the Endoscopy Unit if you are taking blood thinners or are a diabetic or if you have any questions about your medications. Before the procedure a sedative is usually given — you will not receive a full general anaesthetic so you will not be completely unconscious. The back of your throat will be sprayed with local anaesthetic to make it numb, and a small mouth guard may be put between your teeth to stop you from biting the endoscope.

If you have false teeth dentures they will be removed before the procedure. The doctor and medical staff monitor your vital signs during the procedure and will try to make you as comfortable as possible.

The actual procedure usually takes between minutes from start to finish. You should receive instructions from the hospital department before your test.

The sort of instructions given commonly include:. If you have had a sedative - you may take a bit longer to be ready to go home. The sedative will normally make you feel quite pleasant and relaxed. However, you should not drive, operate machinery or drink alcohol for 24 hours after having the sedative.

You will need somebody to accompany you home and to stay with you for 24 hours until the effects have fully worn off. Most people are able to resume normal activities after 24 hours. The operator writes a report and sends it to the doctor who requested the gastroscopy. The result from any sample biopsy may take a few days, which can delay the report being sent. However, if you have had a sedative you may not remember afterwards what you were told.

Therefore, you may wish to have a relative or close friend with you who may be able to remember what was said. Gastroscopy is a good test for seeing abnormalities in the upper gut.

However, it is not foolproof. For example, gastroscopy may not detect a small number of cases of early ulcers or early cancer. Sometimes a repeat gastroscopy may be advised if symptoms persist or become worse, even if a previous gastroscopy was reported as normal. Most gastroscopies are done without any problem. Some people have a mildly sore throat for a day or so afterwards. You may feel tired or sleepy for several hours if you have a sedative.

There is a slightly increased risk of developing a chest infection or pneumonia following a gastroscopy.

Occasionally, the endoscope causes some damage to the gut. This may cause bleeding, infection and rarely a hole perforation. If any of the following occur within 48 hours after a gastroscopy, consult a doctor immediately:. A small number of people have a heart attack or stroke during, or soon after, a gastroscopy. This means you will still be awake, but will be drowsy and have reduced awareness about what's happening.

The doctor carrying out the procedure will place the endoscope in the back of your mouth and ask you to swallow the first part of the tube. It will then be guided down your oesophagus and into your stomach. The procedure is not usually painful, but it may be unpleasant or uncomfortable at times.

Read more about how a gastroscopy is performed. A gastroscopy is a very safe procedure, but like all medical procedures it does carry a risk of complications.