Upper Endoscopy


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After careful medical assessment your doctor has recommended that you have an upper endoscopy.  Upper endoscopy enables the physician to look inside the esophagus (food tube), stomach, and duodenum (first part of the small intestine).  The procedure might be
used to discover the reason for swallowing difficulties, nausea, vomiting, reflux, bleeding, indigestion, abdominal pain or chest pain.  Upper endoscopy is also called EGD, which stands for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (eh-SAH-fuhgoh-Gas-troh-doo-Ah-duh-NAH-skuh-pee).

You will be asked to sign a consent form authorizing the doctor to perform the procedure.   Please inform the GI nurse or physician of any allergies to  medications.   It is helpful if you bring a list of your medication that you take daily including over the counter drugs.

An intravenous (IV) will be started for the purpose of giving medications that will make you sleepy and relaxed for the procedure.

 For the procedure you will swallow a thin, flexible, lighted  tube called an endoscope (EN-doh-skope). Your doctor may spray your throat or ask you to gargle with numbing medicine.   You may also receive pain medicine and  a sedation to help you relax during the exam. You will lie on your left side and the physician will place a small mouthpiece between your teeth.  You will be able to breathe normally. The doctor will then help you swallow the flexible endoscopy tube.  The endoscope transmits an image of the inside of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum, so the physician can carefully examine the lining of these organs.  The scope also blows air into the stomach: this expands the folds of tissue and makes it easier for the physician to examine the stomach.

The physician can see abnormalities, like ulcers, through the endoscope that do not show up well on x-rays.  A biopsy 
specimen (tiny piece of tissue) may be taken for microscopic examination.  You will not feel any sensation of discomfort
when the biopsy is performed. 

Bleeding or puncture of the esophagus or stomach lining are possible complications  of upper endoscopy. These
complication should be discussed with your physician. 
However, such complication are very uncommon. 

     The procedure takes 20 to 30 minutes.  Many people do
not recall any of the procedure because of the effect of
the medication.  After the procedure, you will probably
feel drowsy and may sleep for a short time. 

     Before you leave the doctor will discuss the finding
with you.  The GI nurse will give you written instructions
to follow when you get home.  Also you MUST arrange for someone to take you home afterward--you will not be allowed
to drive because of the sedatives.

Preparation:
Your stomach and duodenum must be empty for the procedure
to be thorough and safe, so you will not be able to eat or drink anything after midnight(or follow your physician's
instructions).

Reference: Society of Gastoenterology Nurses and Associates, Upper Endoscopy brouchure and Guide for Patients prepared by National Digestive Diseases Information Clearing House