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What is Endoscopy

An upper endoscopy, also called an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) is a procedure used to visually examine your upper digestive system. This is done with the help of a tiny camera on the end of a long, flexible tube.

Endoscopy is done by a gastroenterologist and the doctor looks into your food pipe, stomach and upper part of small intestine.

Duration : Not fixed – Depends on the disease and treatment requirement

Anesthesia : ( Depends of patient condition and choice) Can be done with local anesthesia which desensitizes the throat or Under mild sedation or Under Anesthesia

What you can expect during an Endoscopy:Before the procedure the doctor/nurse practitioner will take consent from you explaining the risks, benefits and available alternatives to the procedure. Please make sure you understand all the risks in detail.

You will be asked to lie down on a table on your side or your back.

Monitors are often attached to your fingers or your chest – To monitor your breathing, blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation

You may receive a sedative medication. This medication, given through a vein in your forearm, helps you relax during the endoscopy.

A local anesthetic is used in your mouth to numb your throat

You will be asked to wear a plastic mouth guard to hold your mouth open.

Then the endoscope is inserted in your mouth. Your provider may ask you to swallow as the scope passes down your throat. You may feel some pressure/discomfort in your throat, but you 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 and its important to focus on breathing through the nose throughout the procedure.

As the endoscope travels down your food pipe:

• The doctor will look for any abnormalities through your food pipe, stomach and small intestine. If something abnormal is found, images and sampling through will be taken for diagnosis
• Air will be insufflated through the endoscope into the food pipe and stomach for better visualisation of the gastrointestinal tract which may cause a sensation of fullness or bloating in the abdomen
• After the exam is finished, the endoscope is slowly retracted through your mouth. An endoscopy typically takes 10- 20 minutes.

After the endoscopy

You'll be taken to a recovery area to sit or lie quietly after your endoscopy. During this time, your health care team can monitor you as the sedative begins to wear off.

You can eat approximately 45 minutes to 1 hr after endoscopy if general anesthesia has not been given. First try clear water orally and if tolerated can drink liquids and then solids as tolerated.

Once you're at home, you may experience some mildly uncomfortable symptoms after endoscopy, such as bloating or gas, abdominal cramps, sore throat.

These signs and symptoms will improve with time. If you're concerned or quite uncomfortable, call your health care provider.

Results

Usually, the doctor shares the results after the procedure.if a tissue sample (biopsy) was collected, you may need to wait a few days to get results from the testing laboratory. If any other therapeutic procedure is performed then the doctor will inform you about it.