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| Upper GI Endoscopy |
| What Can You Expect During
an Upper GI Endoscopy? |
During the procedure, everything
will be done to
help you be as comfortable as possible. Your blood pressure, pulse, and the oxygen
level in your blood will be carefully monitored. Your doctor may give you a sedative
medication; the drug will make you relaxed and drowsy, but you will remain awake
enough
to cooperate.
You may also have your throat sprayed or be
asked to gargle with a local anesthetic to help keep you comfortable as the endoscope
is passed. A supportive mouthpiece will be placed to help you keep your mouth
open during the endoscopy. Once you are fully prepared, your doctor will gently
maneuver
the endoscope into position. As the endoscope is slowly and carefully inserted,
air
is introduced through it to help your doctor see better.
During the procedure,
you should feel no pain and it will not interfere with your breathing. Your doctor
will use the endoscope to look closely for any problems that may require evaluation,
diagnosis,
or treatment.
In some cases, it may be necessary to take a
sample of tissue, called a biopsy, for later
examination under the microscope. This, too, is a
painless procedure. In other cases, this endoscope can be used to treat a problem
such as active bleeding from an ulcer. |
| Upper GI Endoscopy is a proven technique - an
effective way to help you maintain your digestive health! |
 |
| One very important step in preparing for
upper GI endoscopy is that you should not eat or drink within
eight to ten hours of your procedure. |
 |
| Food in the stomach will block the view through
the endoscope, and it could cause vomiting. |
 |
| Upper GI endoscopy can be done in either
a hospital or outpatient office. You'll be asked to sign a
form that verifies that you consent to having the procedure
and
that you understand what is
involved. |
 |
| If there is anything you don't understand,
ask for more information! |
|
| What are the Possible Complications
From an Upper GI Endoscopy? |
Years of experience
have proved that upper GI endoscopy is a safe procedure. Typically,
it takes only 15-20 minutes to perform.
Complications rarely occur. These include perforation—a puncture of the
intestinal wall, which could require surgical repair, and bleeding, which could
require transfusion. Again, these complications are unlikely. Be sure to discuss
any specific concerns you may have with your doctor.
When your endoscopy is
completed you'll be cared for in a recovery area until most of the effects
of the medication have worn off. Your doctor will inform you about the results
of the procedure and provide any additional information you need to know.
|
| What Can I Expect After
My Upper GI Endoscopy? |
You will be
given instructions regarding how soon you can eat and drink,
plus other guidelines for resuming your normal activity.
Occasionally, minor problems may persist, such as mild sore throat, bloating,
or cramping; these should disappear in 24 hours or less.
By the time you're ready to go home, you'll feel
stronger and more alert. Nevertheless, you should plan on resting for the remainder
of the day. This means not driving, so you'll need to have a family member or
friend take you home.
In a few days, you will hear from your doctor
with additional information such as results of the
biopsy, or you may have questions you want to ask the doctor directly. One very
important step in preparing for upper GI endoscopy is that you should not eat
or drink within eight to ten hours of your procedure.
Food in the stomach will
block the view through the endoscope, and it could cause vomiting. Upper GI endoscopy
can be done in either a hospital or outpatient office. You'll be asked to sign
a form that verifies that you consent to having the procedure and that you understand
what is involved. If there is anything you don't understand, ask for more information!
|
| What Can You Expect During
an Upper GI Endoscopy? |
During the procedure, everything
will be done to
help you be as comfortable as possible. Your blood pressure, pulse, and the
oxygen level in your blood will be carefully monitored. Your doctor may give
you a sedative medication; the drug will make you relaxed
and drowsy, but you will remain awake enough to cooperate.
You may also have your throat sprayed or be
asked to gargle with a local anesthetic to help keep you comfortable as the
endoscope is passed. A supportive mouthpiece will be placed to help you keep
your mouth open during the endoscopy.
Once you are fully prepared, your doctor
will gendy maneuver the endoscope into position. As the endoscope is slowly
and carefully inserted, air is introduced through it to help your doctor see
better. During the procedure, you should feel no
pain and it will not interfere with your breathing. Your
doctor will use the endoscope to look closely for any problems that may require
evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. In some cases, it may be necessary to
take a sample of tissue, called a biopsy, for later examination under the microscope.
This,
too, is a painless procedure. In other cases, this endoscope can be used to
treat a problem such as active bleeding from an ulcer.
|
| What is Upper GI Endoscopy? |
The term "endoscopy" refers
to a special technique for looking inside a part of the body. "Upper
GI" is the portion of the gastrointestinal tract, the digestive
system, that includes the esophagus, the swallowing tube leading
to the stomach, which is connected
to the duodenum, the beginning of the small intestine.
The
esophagus carries food from the mouth for digestion
in the stomach and duodenum. Upper GI endoscopy
is
a procedure performed by a gastroenterologist, a well-trained subspecialist who
uses the endoscope to diagnose and, in some cases, treat problems of the upper
digestive system.
The
endoscope
is a long, thin, flexible tube with a tiny video
camera and light on the end. By adjusting the various controls on
the
endoscope, the gastroenterologist can safely guide the instrument to carefully
examine the inside
lining of the upper digestive system. The high quality picture from the endoscope
is shown on a TV monitor; it gives a clear, detailed view. In many cases, upper
GI endoscopy is
a more precise examination than X-ray
studies.
Upper GI endoscopy can be helpful in the evaluation or diagnosis of
various
problems, including difficult or painful swallowing, pain in the stomach or abdomen,
and
bleeding, ulcers, and tumors. |
| How Do I Prepare for the Procedure? |
| Regardless of the reason upper
GI endoscopy has been recommended for you, there are important
steps you can take to prepare for and participate in the procedure.
First,
be sure to give your doctor a complete list of all the medicines
you are taking
and any allergies you have to drugs or other substances. Your medical team will
also
want to know if you
have
heart, lung, or other medical conditions that may need
special attention before, during, or after upper GI endoscopy. You will be given
instructions in advance that will outline what you should and should not do in
preparation for the upper GI endoscopy. Be sure to read and follow these instructions. |
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