Upper GI endoscopy
“Hospital without walls”
Your doctor has recommended that you have a procedure called an upper
gastrointestinal endoscopy (this procedure can also be called a gastroscopy or just an
endoscopy). This leaflet will tell you what to expect.
What is an upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy?
Gastro-intestinal means “to do with the stomach and intestines”. An endoscopy is the
term used when the doctor looks inside you by passing a tiny camera down your
throat on the end of a very narrow and flexible tube called an endoscope. So an upper
gastro-intestinal endoscopy is when the doctor uses an endoscope to look inside the
upper part of your digestive system - that’s your gullet, stomach and small intestine.
How can I prepare for my endoscopy?
The procedure must be performed on an empty stomach, so you shouldn’t eat or drink
anything for at least 6 hours beforehand. Before the procedure, a doctor will explain
to you what is going to happen, and you will be asked to sign a consent form to show
that you have understood what they are going to do. You should tell a nurse or doctor
if you have any allergies or if you have had a bad reaction to other tests or to any
drugs, or if you have had an endoscopy before. This is also a good time to mention
any worries or questions, so that you can relax before the procedure. You might be
asked to undress and put on a hospital gown, and to remove false teeth.
What will happen during my operation?
You will lie on your left side on a couch. You may have a local anaesthetic sprayed
on the back of your throat to numb it, or you might have to suck a tablet which will
have the same numbing effect. You might be given a sedative injection, although not
all hospitals do this as the endoscope is so small that you can swallow it without
difficulty. To hold your mouth slightly open, a plastic mouthpiece will be put between
your teeth. The doctor will pass the tip of the endoscope down into your stomach
through your mouth. This will not hurt, and it will not affect your breathing. A nurse
will stay with you during the operation. The procedure may take up to 15 minutes, and
the doctor may have to pass some air through the tube into your stomach to give him a
clearer view by creating more space for the endoscope.
After the test, this air will be sucked out, and the tube will be removed right away.
You might find that lots of saliva collects in your mouth, as you won’t be able to
swallow. The nurse will suck this out using the same sort of sucker that you might
have seen at the dentist. The doctor might want to take a biopsy, which is a tiny
sample of tissue from inside you that can be looked at in a laboratory. The sample is
taken through the endoscope; this doesn’t hurt.
What will happen after the procedure?
You will stay on the couch resting for half an hour, under the care of nursing staff.
You will be allowed to have a drink, but if your throat has been numbed for the
endoscopy, you won’t be able to swallow right away and will have to wait for the
anaesthetic to wear off (this takes 1-2 hours). You can then eat and drink normally,
although your throat may feel a bit sore and you might feel a bit bloated if there is still
some air in your stomach. Both feelings are normal, and will clear up by themselves.
If you are going home on the same day you must arrange for someone to drive you
home if you have been given any sedative. The sedative will stay in your system for a
while so you should rest for the rest of the day, and you should not drive, operate
machinery or drink alcohol. Check with the doctors whether they have given you
anything that will affect your ability to do these things. You should be able to resume
normal activities on the day after the procedure.
When will I get my results?
The doctor may be able to tell you the result of your endoscopy straight after it is
done. If a biopsy has been taken, however, it will probably be sent away to be
examined, so you might have to wait a few days for the results. You should try to
have someone with you when you get your results, since if you have had a sedative
you will feel quite ‘woozy’ and may not remember everything the doctor tells you.
You can discuss your test results in detail with the doctor who recommended that you
have the endoscopy.
We hope this leaflet has answered your questions. Please ask your doctor or the
hospital staff if you feel worried or unsure about anything.
Potential complications of colonoscopy
There is a very small risk of piercing the wall of the bowel with the endoscope. The
risk is slightly higher when a polyp is removed. If this does happen, it can be fixed
with an operation.
After a polyp has been removed, you might have a bit of bleeding from your back
passage. The chance of this is about 1 in 500, and it usually stops without treatment.
Occasionally, if this bleeding doesn’t stop by itself, an operation might be necessary.
There is also a small risk of bleeding after a biopsy has been taken, and you might see
blood in your stools or on the toilet paper the first time you have a bowel movement
after the colonoscopy, but this is also unusual and should clear up within 24 hours.
Other tests you might have
Sometimes the bowel cannot be fully examined with a colonoscope. This is usually
either because of previous abdominal surgery, where there is scar tissue or a delicate
place in the bowel, or because the patient finds the procedure uncomfortable. You will
be given sedatives and painkillers for the procedure (general anaesthetic is not used,
however), and most people don’t have any problems with it. If you do feel pain or
discomfort, please let the doctor know and they will stop. A different test such as a
special CT scan or a barium enema can be used instead. However, colonoscopy is
thought to be the best way of examining the bowel because it gives the doctors more
information than other test