Gastroscopy

By means of a gastroscopy, the doctor examines the interior of the oesophagus, the stomach and the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum), and detects irregularities. This involves the use of a gastroscope (a thin, flexible tube with a camera that is about the thickness of a finger) which is inserted via the throat. The doctor may remove small pieces of tissue for further examination.

Before the examination

  • Inform your doctor about any medication you are taking. Some types of medication have to be discontinued before the examination.
  • The examination can only be properly carried out if your oesophagus and stomach are totally empty. So you may not eat or drink anything as from 10 pm the evening before the examination, until the examination is over.

The examination

You lie on your left side during the examination. It takes an average of 5 minutes. A gastroscopy may be unpleasant but it is painless. You are sedated during the examination. There are three possibilities:

  1. Local anaesthetic

You are given a slightly sedating throat spray.

  1. Light sedation

You are given a sedating drug via a drip so that you do not feel tense. The effect differs from one person to the other. Some patients fall asleep, while others are just a little drowsy. You are, however, still able to follow the doctor’s instructions.

  1. Deeper sedation

You can also opt for deeper sedation. You have to discuss this with your doctor beforehand. With deeper sedation, you are asleep and totally unaware of the examination. A consultation with an anaesthesiologist is necessary prior to this.

After the examination

The doctor discusses the result of your examination with you and authorises your discharge from the hospital. You may then leave the hospital. After the examination, regardless of whether or not you have been sedated, you still have to wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking. This is because your throat has been anaesthetised and so swallowing is difficult.

If the examination has been carried out under light or deeper sedation, your reflexes may still be slow because of the drugs. This means you may only leave the hospital if you are accompanied by another person. You may not drive a vehicle for the rest of the day.

Side effects

You may experience one or more side effects, such as:

  • Painful throat
  • Burping
  • Sleepiness, dizziness or a headache if you have been sedated.

These are the known effects of the examination and they will pass.

If these complaints persist or if you have severe pain, bleeding or a high temperature, please contact your doctor or GP.

< Back