by Dr. Rajesh Pendlimari, Surgical Gastroenterologist | May 10, 2021

An upper GI endoscopy, commonly known as endoscopy is a procedure used to examine your upper digestive system with a tiny camera on the end of a long, flexible tube.

A specialist in diseases of the digestive system (gastroenterologist) uses an endoscopy to diagnose and, sometimes, treat conditions that affect the esophagus, stomach and beginning of the small intestine (duodenum).

Who needs an endoscopy?

An upper endoscopy is used to diagnose and, sometimes, treat conditions that affect the upper part of your digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach and beginning of the small intestine (duodenum).

What will be my symptoms?

Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, difficulty swallowing and bleeding.

What can be diagnosed with endoscopy?

Your doctor may use an endoscopy to collect tissue samples (biopsy) to test for diseases and conditions, such as anemia, bleeding, inflammation, diarrhea or cancers of the digestive system.

Sometimes endoscopy can be used to treat certain conditions such as widening a narrow esophagus, clipping off a polyp or removing a foreign object.

Newer endoscopes use high-definition video to provide clearer images.

Many endoscopes have technology called narrow band imaging, which uses special light to help doctors better detect precancerous conditions, such as Barrett’s esophagus.

Is it a risky procedure?

An endoscopy is a very safe procedure.

Rare complications include:

1. Bleeding (approximately 1 in 5000 patients) Your risk of bleeding complications after an endoscopy is increased if the procedure involves removing a piece of tissue for testing (biopsy) or treating a digestive system problem. In rare cases, such bleeding may require a blood transfusion.
2. Infection. (approximately 1 in 100) Most endoscopies consist of an examination and biopsy, and risk of infection is very low. The risk of infection increases when additional procedures are performed as part of your endoscopy. Most infections are minor and can be treated with antibiotics. Your doctor may give you preventive antibiotics before your procedure if you are at higher risk of infection.
3. Tearing of the gastrointestinal tract. (approximately 1 in 10000) A tear in your esophagus or another part of your upper digestive tract may require hospitalization, and sometimes surgery to repair it. The risk of this complication is very low, but it increases if additional procedures, such as dilation to widen your esophagus, are performed.

4. Reaction to sedation. Prior to your upper endoscopy, you’ll likely be given sedation so that you’ll be better able to tolerate the procedure. The type of sedation varies, and adverse reactions are possible, but rare. You will be monitored closely during the procedure to reduce the risk of serious reaction.

You can reduce your risk of complications by carefully following your doctor’s instructions for preparing for an endoscopy, such as fasting and stopping certain medications.

How do you prepare yourself for an endoscopy?

1. Follow the doctors instructions.

2. You will need to stop drinking and eating up to eight hours before your endoscopy to ensure your stomach is empty for the procedure.

3. Tell your doctor about all the medications and supplements you’re taking before your endoscopy.

If you take certain blood-thinning medications, your doctor may recommend that you stop taking them in the days before your endoscopy. Blood thinners may increase your risk of bleeding if certain procedures are performed during the endoscopy.

4. If you have chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure, your doctor will give you specific instructions regarding your medications.

Other precautions

Most patients do not require sedation for a diagnostic endoscopy. If it’s a therapeutic endoscopy, you might be admitted in the hospital and procedure will be done under sedation.

What should I expect for the procedure?

Before the procedure

Before your upper endoscopy procedure, you’ll be asked to lie down on a table on your back or on your side. Your doctor may also spray an anesthetic in your mouth, which will numb your throat in preparation for insertion of the long, flexible tube (endoscope). You may be asked to wear a plastic mouth guard to hold your mouth open.

During the procedure

Your doctor will then insert the endoscope in your mouth. He or she may ask you to swallow as the scope passes down your throat. You may feel some pressure in your throat, but you generally shouldn’t feel pain. You can’t talk after the endoscope passes down your throat, though you can make noises. The endoscope doesn’t interfere with your breathing.

As your doctor passes the endoscope down your esophagus:

A tiny camera at the tip transmits images to a video monitor in the exam room. Your doctor watches this monitor to look for abnormalities in your upper digestive tract. If abnormalities are found in your digestive tract, your doctor may record images for later examination.

Gentle air pressure may be fed into your esophagus to inflate your digestive tract. This allows the endoscope to move freely. And it allows your doctor to more easily examine the folds of your digestive tract. You may feel pressure or fullness from the added air.

Your doctor will pass special surgical tools through the endoscope to collect a tissue sample or remove a polyp. Your doctor watches the video monitor to guide the tools.

When your doctor has finished the exam, the endoscope is slowly retracted through your mouth. An endoscopy typically takes 5 to 10 minutes, depending on your situation.

After the procedure

You can have your food / liquids after the endoscopy and walk back.

If you are admitted and sedated, you will be taken to a recovery room to lay quiet for observation for an hour or so till your sedation wears off.

Do I experience any problems after endoscopy?

Once you’re at home, you may experience some mildly uncomfortable signs and symptoms after endoscopy, such as: Bloating and gas / Cramping / Sore throat

These signs and symptoms will improve with time. If you’re concerned or quite uncomfortable, call your doctor.

When will I get the results?

When you receive the results of your endoscopy will depend on your situation. If, for instance, your doctor performed the endoscopy to look for an ulcer, you may learn the findings right after your procedure. If he or she collected a tissue sample (biopsy), you may need to wait a few days to get results from the testing laboratory. Ask your doctor when you can expect the results of your endoscopy.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Read more :