PREPARATION BEFORE PROCEDURE:

• You will be asked not to eat or drink anything eight hours before your endoscopy as an empty stomach allows for the best and safest endoscopy.
• You will have to tell all details pertaining to your medical history, allergies and medications. Certain medications like blood thinners need to be stopped few days before endoscopy as they can increase the risk of bleeding. Few others need an adjustment in their dosages and timing.

ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURE:

• You will be asked to lie down on a table either on your back or on your left side. Monitor will be attached to your body to keep a track of your breathing, blood pressure and heart rate.
• You may need mild sedation to help you to relax. Your doctor then sprays a local anaesthetic in your throat. A plastic mouth guard is then inserted to hold your mouth open.
• The doctor then passes the endoscope into your mouth and you may be asked to swallow as the scope passes down your throat. You may feel some pressure but generally there is no pain. This procedure doesn’t interfere with your breathing. Most patients consider the test only slightly uncomfortable.
• As the endoscope passes down, a tiny camera at the tip of endoscope transmits images to a video monitor, which can be visualized by the doctor to diagnose and treat disease conditions accordingly. The doctor may pass additional instruments through a port in the endoscope to collect a tissue sample(biopsy), remove a polyp or to stop bleeding. After the procedure endoscope is removed. Endoscopy usually takes 15-30minutes depending on the situation.

AFTER PROCEDURE:

• You might be asked to stay till the effect of sedative medication wears off. Even if you feel alert after the procedure, your judgement and reflexes could be impaired for the rest of the day. Hence someone must drive you home and stay with you.
• You might have a mild bloating sensation due to air introduced during endoscopy. You may also experience sore throat and cramping for which you can contact your doctor only when you are quite uncomfortable as they resolve with time.
• You will be asked to start taking food after a certain time based on your condition.

COMPLICATIONS:

Endoscopy is generally a safe procedure. You can reduce your risk of complications by strictly following pre-procedure orders like adequate fasting or stopping of certain medications. The following are the rare complications of endoscopy:

• Bleeding: Following removal of polyp or taking a tissue sample.
• Perforation: A tear in the gastrointestinal lining, which may need surgery.
• Risk of infection though very rare may be present.
• Reaction to sedative: You may develop adverse reaction to sedatives.

WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR:

• Fever
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty swallowing
• Bloody, black stools
• Severe or persistent pain
• Vomiting, especially if vomitus is bloody or looks like coffee grounds