Gastroscopy (upper endoscopy)
Upper endoscopy (gastroscopy) is the most accurate examination available, allowing for a detailed view of the inside of the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum to diagnose inflammation, ulcers, polyps, tumours, and other changes in the digestive tract.
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Upper endoscopy (gastroscopy) is the most precise examination that allows for a detailed view of the inside of the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum, enabling the diagnosis of inflammation, ulcers, polyps, tumours, and other changes in the digestive tract. During the examination, the doctor may also perform additional procedures – take a tissue sample (biopsy), remove polyps, or extract swallowed foreign objects. During the examination, the doctor inserts a flexible instrument with high-quality optical magnification through the patient’s mouth into the digestive tract, providing a detailed image that doctors document, save, and analyse after the examination, ensuring the highest diagnostic accuracy.
This examination is usually performed under intravenous sedation, which ensures maximum patient comfort and reduces stress. During sedation, an anaesthesiologist administers a short-acting sedative into the patient’s vein, helping the patient feel calm and relaxed during the procedure. Sedation is not general anaesthesia – the patient breathes on their own but feels no discomfort and remembers the procedure minimally or not at all. Intravenous sedation makes upper endoscopy a quick, safe, and maximally comfortable procedure that helps obtain an accurate diagnosis and, if necessary, perform therapeutic procedures during a single visit.
During the procedure, the patient’s vital signs are continuously monitored, ensuring the highest level of safety.
The examination usually lasts 10–15 minutes, and afterwards, you will need to remain at the clinic for a while until the effects of the sedation wear off. You may go home on the same day after the procedure, but you are not permitted to drive for 12 hours.
How to prepare for a gastroscopy
- On the day before the examination, patients may eat easily digestible foods, preferably by 6:00 p.m. After that, only clear fluids are allowed.
- Regularly taken medications should be taken no later than 6 hours before the examination, with a small sip of water.
- Fluid intake must also be stopped two hours before the examination
- Consult your family doctor or cardiologist regarding the discontinuation of blood-thinning medications.
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