Gastroscopy Check-up is a safe and effective test for many digestive problems such as ulcers, inflammation and abnormal growths. A thin, flexible tube with a light and camera on the end (an endoscope) is passed through your mouth into your stomach. Before the procedure you will be offered medicine (sedation) that makes you sleepy and relaxed. It is important to arrange transport home after the gastroscopy as sedation can take up to 24 hours to wear off.
Symptoms
Gastroscopy is a test used to examine the inside of your oesophagus (gullet or food pipe), stomach and duodenum (upper part of the small bowel). It allows your doctor to see any areas of inflammation, growth, bleeding or ulcers. It can also be used to take a sample of tissue for biopsy. The procedure is usually done under sedation and you will probably not remember the test afterwards.
During a gastroscopy, the back of your throat is sprayed with a local anaesthetic to make it numb. The endoscope is then inserted into your mouth down into your oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. The doctor can then view these areas using the video camera attached to the endoscope. He or she can also perform specialised procedures such as taking biopsies.
If there are any inflammatory, growth or ulcerative lesions the doctor can inject medicines directly into these areas to treat them. The doctor can also use the endoscope to cauterize these lesions by applying heat to them using a special tool. In addition, the doctor can dilate narrowings or strictures in the oesophagus, stomach or duodenum using balloons. This can reduce or eliminate symptoms of GERD, such as heartburn, inflammation and difficulty swallowing.
In general, a gastroscopy is a safe procedure with few risks. However, there is a slight risk of damage to the oesophagus, a small hole in the oesophagus or stomach lining (perforation), and bleeding at the biopsy site. The chances of these complications are higher if you have a hole in your oesophagus or stomach, or if you have recently had surgery in these areas.
There is also a risk that air could get trapped in your stomach during the test, causing you to feel bloated. This feeling should wear off soon after the procedure.
It is important to follow the instructions given to you before the procedure. You should not drive, travel alone on public transport, operate machinery or sign legal documents on the day of the test and you should have someone to take you home.
After your gastroscopy you will be sent home when it is safe to do so. You should not eat anything until your gag reflex returns, which normally happens within an hour. You will also be told not to drink alcohol as this increases the risk of vomiting during a gastroscopy. A sore throat may be experienced due to the spray on your throat, but this should improve by the following day. It is a good idea to drink plenty of water after the examination. If you have any questions or concerns about the test, please ask your GP or the specialist staff in the Endoscopy Department.
Preparation
Gastroscopy involves passing a flexible tube with a video camera attached to the end to examine your throat, food pipe (oesophagus), stomach and part of the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). It can help diagnose or rule out conditions such as gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), inflammation of the oesophagus lining, peptic ulcers, Barrett’s esophagus (precancerous condition) and certain types of cancer. It is also used to take tissue samples for further testing.
To prepare for a gastroscopy, you will be told not to eat solid food for about 8 hours before the test and to drink only water. If you have to take medication in the form of pills, you should stop taking them 4 hours before your procedure, except for Tylenol (acetaminophen). If you are allergic to ibuprofen or aspirin, tell your doctor.
The procedure itself only lasts a few minutes. You lie on your left side and the doctor sprays your throat with a local anaesthetic. A mouthpiece is put in your mouth to keep your teeth apart and prevent you from biting down on the tube, which might irritate it. Then you swallow the starting segment of the tube and the doctor pushes it down your oesophagus, stomach and into the entrance of your duodenum.
Using the video images on the screen, the doctor can check the lining of your oesophagus, adolescence and stomach and see for any abnormalities like redness or swelling. He can also check for things like varicose veins, unusually narrow passages, stomach ulcers and bleeding in the oesophagus or stomach. He can also insert instruments and take tissue samples if necessary.
Gastroscopy is a safe, effective diagnostic tool that helps reduce the need for open surgery in many patients with upper gastrointestinal disorders. It is also an effective treatment for certain conditions.
A follow-up appointment will be made to discuss the findings of your gastroscopy. You will be able to go home once the sedative has worn off, but you should not drive or travel alone on public transport and do any heavy work for 24 hours. You might feel bloated because of air introduced during the examination, and your throat may be sore from the local anaesthetic spray. You should also avoid fatty foods and alcohol for 24 hours after the procedure. It is also a good idea not to smoke during this time.
Procedure
A gastroscopy is done in a hospital, and you are usually given a sedative medicine by injection into a vein (IV). This helps you relax, and sometimes puts you to sleep. You will have little or no recollection of the test itself. If you have a history of bleeding disorders, your doctor may want to give you special instructions on how to prepare for the procedure, including whether or not you should take blood thinners, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. You should also tell your doctor if you have a history of any abdominal surgery or bowel inflammation.
You will be asked to lie flat, generally on your left side. You will be given a throat spray to anaesthetise the back of your throat, and an IV will be started in your arm or hand with a medicine to help you relax (sedative). You will be encouraged to breathe normally, but you may find it helpful to focus on a breath that comes through your nose and out through your mouth to assist your relaxation and reduce any discomfort.
The doctor will pass a long, thin, flexible tube with a small camera at its end into your mouth and down into your oesophagus, stomach and duodenum (upper part of the small intestine). A video processor is attached to the gastroscope that displays a picture on a monitor screen, so your doctor can see the inside of your upper gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach and the upper duodenum).
During this procedure it is usual for the doctor to insert a biopsy needle into any area that appears abnormal. This is done very carefully and is not painful. A tissue sample will be taken from this area and sent for laboratory tests. A biopsy can be performed to check for cancer, ulcers, enlarged lymph nodes or other causes of symptoms.
The gastroscope is also used to remove polyps (small lumps), or carry out a procedure called endoscopic mucosal resection. The gastroscope can also be used to control or prevent bleeding from enlarged veins (varicose veins) in the oesophagus, by injecting them with chemicals or placing bands on them.
A gastroscopy can also diagnose a number of other problems, such as stomach ulcers, gallstones, or liver disease. If your doctor thinks that you might have stomach or intestinal cancer, they will probably recommend a gastroscopy as part of a checkup. After the test you will be moved into a recovery room, where the nurse will care for you until you are awake. You will need someone to drive you home if you have had sedation. It is important that you are accompanied home, as you will feel drowsy and might not remember the procedure. You will need to be careful about eating and drinking and should not drive, operate machinery or sign legal documents until 24 hours after the test, unless your doctor advises you otherwise.