What is a Gastroscopy ?
Also called OGD and Upper GI Endoscopy. Gastroscopy allows the doctor to look directly at the lining of the gullet (oesophagus), stomach, and first part of the small intestine (duodenum).
A slim flexible tube with a light on its end is gently passed from your mouth into your stomach. Pictures from the tube are shown on a TV monitor and a clear view of your gullet, stomach and duodenum linings can be seen. A small sample of tissue (biopsy) can be taken for analysis in the laboratory. This is removed painlessly with a tiny pair of forceps.
Who has a Gastroscopy?
A gastroscopy may be advised if you have symptoms such as recurring indigestion, recurring heartburn, pains in the upper abdomen, repeated vomiting, difficulty swallowing, or other symptoms thought to be coming from the upper gut.
The sort of conditions which can be confirmed (or ruled out) include:
- Oesophagitis (inflammation of the oesophagus). The operator will see areas of redness on the lining of the oesophagus.
- Duodenal and stomach ulcers. An ulcer looks like a small, red crater on the inside lining of the duodenum or stomach.
- Duodenitis and gastritis (inflammation of the duodenum and stomach).
- Cancer of the stomach and oesophagus.
- Various other rare conditions.
What happens to me during the procedure ?
The doctor will meet you and explain the test to you. You will both sign a consent form. This is show you understand what will happen and agree to the procedure being performed. If you have any queries or worries, please tell your doctor. Your blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen levels will be checked before your test.
If you wear glasses or dentures, you will be asked to remove them.
You will be given the local anaesthetic throat spray at this point. If you are having sedation, the needle will be placed in the back of your hand. You will be taken to the examination room and made comfortable on a bed on your left-hand side. To keep your mouth open, a plastic mouth guard will be placed between your teeth. A fine plastic tube will rest by your nostrils to give you some extra oxygen. A probe will be placed on your finger to monitor your oxygen levels and pulse rate. If you are having sedation it will be given now and you will fell sleepy.
Possible Complications in India
If you have this procedure under general anaesthetic, there is a very small risk of complications related to your heart and lungs. The tests that you will have before the procedure will make sure that you can have the it in the safest possible way and will bring the risk for such complications very close to zero.
The examination is virtually free from complications. There may be some soreness of the throat for a day or so. Extremely rarely, especially if biopsies are taken, you can have some prolonged bleeding from the area of the biopsies or even a hole in your oesophagus or stomach that will require an operation to fix it.
