It is a nonsurgical procedure used to examine a person's digestive tract.
A medical test to look inside the patient's body with an camera which passes inside called the endoscope attached with a light which goes through the mouth and the doctors view pictures of the digestive tract on a upper GI endoscopy can be used to identify many different diseases.
An upper endoscopy takes approximately 10-15mins
Nothing to eat or drink at least 8 Hours before the procedure.
Medication can be taken 4hours before examination with little sips of water
Do not take any antacids or Carafate before the procedure
Wear loose comfortable clothing
The procedure may be uncomfortable but it shouldn’t be painful. The patient will receive an intravenous sedative or another form of anesthesia. The most discomfort the patient may experience during or after the procedure is usually bloating that results from air that is pushed into the GI tract to expand areas for better visualization or for passing of the tube.
The endoscope camera is very slim and slippery and will slide pass the throat into the food pipe easily without any blockage to the airways or choking.
There is no obstruction to breathing during the procedure and the patients breathe normally throughout the examination.
