Gastroscopy

Your gastroenterologist will insert an endoscope—a thin, flexible, lighted tube—into your throat. The endoscope will transmit an image of the inside of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum, which allows your physician to carefully examine the lining of these organs:

• To look for abnormalities, such as inflammation or bleeding that do not show up well on x-rays
• Insert instruments into the scope to treat bleeding abnormalities or remove samples of tissue (biopsy) for further tests



Bleeding and puncture of the stomach lining are possible, but these complications would be rare. Most people experience only a mild sore throat after the procedure.

An endoscopy usually takes between 20 and 30 minutes. As you would be sedated for the procedure, you would need to rest at the endoscopy facility for one to 2 hours until the medication wears off. Most importantly, have someone else drive you home.

Note: Your physician may give you other special instructions.