Upper GI Endoscopy

What does this involve?

An upper GI endoscopy is routinely done as an out-patient and takes about 10 minutes.

The endoscopist will spray your throat with some local anaesthetic and ask you to lay on your left side in a comfortable position - a plastic mouthpiece will be placed in your mouth.  A member of the endoscopy team will monitor your oxygen levels and heart rate using a finger clip. 

The endoscopist will place a flexible telescope into the back of your throat.  You will be asked to swallow which will help the endoscope to pass easily into your oesophagus and down you're your stomach.  From here the endoscope will pass into your duodenum. 

The endoscopist will be able to look for any problems in these organs such as inflammation or ulcers.  They will be able to perform biopsies and take photographs to help diagnosis.

The procedure is not painful although your stomach may feel bloated as air is blown into your stomach to improve the view.

When will I recover

You should be able to go home straight away unless you received a sedative.  Your doctor will tell you the results of the test and discuss any treatment of follow up you may need.  Results from any biopsies will not be available for a few days. 

What risks should I know about?

An upper GI endoscopy is a very safe and effective procedure although there are some rare complications.

You may suffer from a sore throat, or a possible allergic reaction to the equipment both of which clear up quickly.  Very rarely you may have breathing difficulties or a hole may be accidentally made in your oesophagus, stomach or duodenum which will require further treatment.    

Circle care

Upper GI endoscopy is carried out at our state of the art facilities and we have a dedicated team who will guide you through the process from first consultation to after-care and will be available to answer any questions or queries you may have.