An endoscopy is a medical procedure that lets your doctor examine the lining of
the upper part of your gastrointestinal tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach,
and the beginning of the small intestine. This is done by inserting a small, flexible
tube that has a light source and tiny camera into your mouth and viewing the images
on a TV screen.
An endoscopy, or upper GI endoscopy, lets your gastroenterologist, Dr.
Shamsi, look for the causes of persistent nausea or upper abdominal pain,
swallowing difficulties or vomiting, or sources of bleeding in the upper
gastrointestinal tract. Since instruments can be passed through the endoscope,
it is also used to get small tissue samples for examination in a lab.
How do I prepare for an endoscopy?
What happens during an endoscopy?
Are there any risks with this procedure?
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How Do I Prepare for an Endoscopy?
The best and safest examinations are done on an empty stomach. Dr. Shamsi will
tell you when to begin fasting, but a period of six hours with nothing to eat
or drink is typical. You should also alert Dr. Shamsi or his staff about any medications
you are taking, as well as any allergies you have and if you need to take antibiotics
before having any dental work done.
You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home after the examination is
done. You may not take a taxi or bus home alone.
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What Happens During an Endoscopy?
Your gastroenterologist, Dr. Shamsi, will either spray your throat with a local
anesthetic or administer a sedative to help you relax, or both. You'll be instructed
to lie on your side and the endoscopy will be passed through your mouth and into
the areas to be examined. The process isn't painful, and there is no impairment
to breathing. Many patients, in fact, even fall asleep.
An hour or so following the procedure the anesthetic will wear off and you can
generally be driven home where you can eat and drink normally unless you've been
instructed otherwise.
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Are There Any Risks With This Procedure?
There are rarely any complications when Dr. Shamsi performs an endoscopy. If any
bleeding is caused by a polyp removal or biopsy, it's usually minor and does not
require any follow-up or any other treatment. As with any procedure that uses
sedatives, there's a possibility of allergic reactions to the medication.
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