Table of contents:
- Definition
- What is an endoscopy?
- Destination
- When should I have upper gastrointestinal endoscopy?
- 1. Check for symptoms
- 2. Diagnosing disease
- 3. Treating disease
- Process
- What should I do before undergoing an endoscopy?
- How is the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy?
- What should I do after undergoing endoscopy?
- Risks and Warnings
- What complications can occur?
- 1. Bleeding
- 2. Infection
- 3. The wound is torn
- Explanation of the Test Results
- What do my test results mean?
- What can affect the test results?
Definition
What is an endoscopy?
Upper GI endoscopy, or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, is a medical procedure to visually examine your upper gastrointestinal tract. The digestive tract that is examined includes the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
This procedure is performed with a thin, flexible cable-like instrument called an endoscope. The end of the endoscope is inserted into the mouth and gently pushed into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
The entire upper digestive tract can be observed and examined during this medical procedure. Therefore, it is not uncommon upper GI endoscopy (UGI) is also referred to as esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).
Endoscopy can show the possibility of developing open sores in the stomach (peptic ulcers), irritation, tumors, infection, or bleeding. With this procedure, doctors can also take samples (biopsy), remove polyps, and treat bleeding.
Through this examination, problems in the body that are not detected by X-rays can be revealed. This examination usually also rules out the possibility of surgical operation.
Destination
When should I have upper gastrointestinal endoscopy?
Your doctor will likely recommend an endoscopic procedure for the following purposes.
1. Check for symptoms
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy can help doctors determine the signs and causes of indigestion. Conditions observed include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, difficulty swallowing, and bleeding in your digestive tract.
2. Diagnosing disease
Doctors can use an endoscope to take samples of body tissue to test for possible diseases and other conditions. These conditions are anemia, bleeding, irritation, diarrhea, or cancer in your digestive system.
3. Treating disease
Doctors can operate special medical instruments through the endoscope to see problems in the digestive system firsthand. Procedures that can be done include:
- closing open wounds in blood vessels that cause bleeding,
- dilates the passage of the esophagus, as well
- remove intestinal polyps or other foreign bodies.
Endoscopic procedures can be accompanied by other procedures such as ultrasound. Transmitter ultrasound (probe) will be attached to the endoscope to produce an image of the wall of your esophagus or the inside of your stomach.
Endoscopy ultrasound It can also help doctors take pictures of hard-to-reach organs, such as the pancreas. The latest endoscope is now equipped with HD video to produce clear and sharp image recordings.
Some endoscopes can even assist doctors in operating the latest technology, such as narrow band imaging. This capillary artery staining technology can better detect colon cancer.
Process
What should I do before undergoing an endoscopy?
Your doctor will give you a number of directions before undergoing the endoscopy procedure. You will likely be asked to fast for 4-8 hours to completely empty your stomach during this procedure.
Fasting must be done, because the endoscope will enter and show a picture of the gastrointestinal tract. If the patient is not fasting, the doctor will find it difficult to check clearly because the channel is closed with food or drink.
You also need to discuss about any health conditions you have with your doctor. Also tell if you are taking one or more of the following drugs.
- Aspirin or medicines containing aspirin.
- Medicines for arthritis.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
- Blood thinners.
- Blood pressure lowering drugs.
- Diabetes drugs.
How is the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy?
Doctors perform endoscopes in a hospital or clinic. First of all, you will be sedated through an IV which helps you to be relaxed and comfortable during the procedure. In some cases, the procedure can also be performed without anesthesia.
You will be given liquid anesthesia in the form of mouthwash or spray to the back of your throat. This anesthetic will numb the esophagus and prevent the gag reflex. The medical staff will monitor your vital signs and keep you comfortable.
You will be asked to lie on your side on the operating table. The doctor will slowly insert the endoscope down your esophagus into the inside of your stomach and duodenum.
A small camera attached to the endoscope will send video to the monitor to clearly show the pathways of your digestive tract. The endoscope then pumps air into the stomach and intestines so that it can be seen clearly.
During the procedure, your doctor may do the following.
- Perform a biopsy on the tissue of your digestive organs. You will not feel the biopsy.
- Stops bleeding in the digestive tract.
- Perform other medical procedures deemed necessary, such as dilating a narrowed digestive tract.
The procedure usually takes 15-30 minutes. The endoscope does not interfere with breathing, and the patient will generally fall asleep during the procedure.
What should I do after undergoing endoscopy?
After the procedure, you may wait at the hospital or clinic for 1-2 hours for the effects of the anesthesia to wear off. Before being allowed to go home, you or your family members will receive instructions about post-procedure care.
You may feel nauseous and bloated for a while. Pain in the throat is also common, and this is perfectly normal. All complaints will usually fade away after 1-2 days.
Risks and Warnings
What complications can occur?
Endoscopy is a very safe procedure. However, like any medical procedure, there are still some possible side effects that can occur. In rare cases, the complications that can occur are as follows.
1. Bleeding
The risk of bleeding after this procedure increases if it involves a biopsy (taking a tissue sample) or other procedures to treat digestive system problems. In rare cases, the bleeding necessitates a blood transfusion.
2. Infection
The risk of infection may increase when additional procedures are performed as part of the endoscopic procedure. Even so, the infection is usually mild and can be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics can also be given early to prevent infection.
3. The wound is torn
Tears of the upper gastrointestinal tract require inpatient treatment in a hospital, and sometimes surgery is required to repair them. However, this risk is very low, only occurring in 3-5 out of 10,000 procedures.
You can reduce your risk of complications by being careful and always following your doctor's rules about endoscopy preparation, including fasting and stopping certain medications.
Explanation of the Test Results
What do my test results mean?
The doctor will likely discuss the results and findings as soon as the procedure is complete. However, the anesthetic that is given may affect focus and memory, so the doctor will need to wait for the sedative effect to wear off.
Other results may be received after 2 - 4 days post procedure. Screening for certain types of infection may take up to several weeks.
| Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy | |
| Normal: | The esophagus, stomach, and duodenum appear normal |
| Abnormal: | You find irritation or abrasions on the esophagus (esophagitis), stomach (gastritis), or small intestine |
| Bleeding, ulcers, tumors, torn wounds, or dilated blood vessels (esophageal varices) in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum | |
| A hiatal hernia was found | |
| There is a narrowing of the esophagus | |
| Foreign objects found in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum |
A biopsy sample may be taken to:
- find out whether the detected tumor or ulcer contains cancer cells, or
- identify the type of bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
Several conditions can change the outcome of an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The doctor will discuss with you any abnormal results that may be related to the symptoms or signs of your past medical condition.
What can affect the test results?
You may not be able to have an endoscopy or the results may not be of much help if you have recently had the procedure used barium contrast material.
An upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy should also not be performed less than two days after running the same series of examinations (UGI) so that the doctor can examine your stomach and small intestine.
Endoscopy is an important procedure for examining the health of organs, diagnosing diseases and treating a number of health problems. Before undergoing an endoscopy, make sure you consult your doctor to get the best benefit and reduce the risk of possible side effects.
