Upper Endoscopy
- Posted on: Oct 15 2017
If you have chronic heartburn, abdominal or chest pain, nausea, and vomiting, or other problems that seem to originate in the upper digestive system, we may recommend an upper endoscopy. Also known as EGD, an upper endoscopy uses an endoscope to look inside the upper digestive tract for signs of problems.
Who needs an upper endoscopy?
Patients experiencing various signs of digestive problems, such as difficulty swallowing food, nausea or vomiting, or unexplained weight loss, are likely to need an EGD.
How is an upper endoscopy done?
You can’t eat or drink anything for eight hours before your procedure. To start the procedure, we apply a local anesthetic to the back of your throat to ease the insertion of the endoscope. Next, we’ll give you a sedative and pain reliever intravenously to help you relax and make you drowsy. You’ll lie on your side, and we give you a mouthpiece. We then insert the endoscope into your mouth and move it through your esophagus and down into your stomach. The endoscope broadcasts video that is viewed in real time on a monitor adjacent to your bed. As the endoscope travels down your gastrointestinal tract, our doctors can look for any abnormalities. The video is recorded. The entire procedure takes just 15-20 minutes.
What are the advantages to performing and upper endoscopy?
An EGD is more accurate than an x-ray for detecting abnormal growths such as cancer and for examining the inside of the upper digestive system. Certain abnormalities can be treated with the endoscope.
- Polpys can be identified and removed, and tissue samples can be taken for analysis.
- Objects lodged in the esophagus or stomach can be removed
- Areas that are abnormally narrow or constricted can be stretched using balloons and other devices. To keep the area widened, a stent can be inserted.
- Bleeding due to ulcers or cancer can be treated.
What happens after my upper endoscopy?
We keep you in a recovery room for 30 minutes after your EGD for observation. Your throat will have some temporary soreness from the endoscope, but this passes in a few hours and throat lozenges help.
Once you’re fully awake, we’ll discuss the results of your endoscopy.
If you have any of the symptoms above, don’t hesitate to call us at Ogden Clinic GI at McKay. You may need an upper endoscopy. Call 801-387-2550 for an appointment.
Posted in: Upper Endoscopy
