Gastroscopy

• Authorization will be arranged by the rooms or hospital staff if required.

• Fasting:

• No solid food for 6 hours before the procedure

• No clear liquids for 2 hours before the procedure

• Most chronic medications may be taken with a small sip of water.

• Inform your doctor if you are taking blood-thinning medication.

• Diabetic medication instructions will be discussed with you in advance.

Gastroscopy is usually performed under sedation. A local anaesthetic spray may be applied to the throat. You will be monitored throughout the procedure, and recovery staff will observe you afterwards until the sedation wears off.

Gastroscopy is usually performed as a day procedure.

• A thin flexible scope is passed through the mouth into the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

• Air is gently introduced to improve visibility.

• Tissue samples (biopsies) may be taken for testing.

• Therapeutic procedures such as control of bleeding or dilation may be performed if required.

The procedure does not interfere with breathing.

The procedure usually takes 10–20 minutes.

• Sore throat or bloating (common and temporary)

• Bleeding, especially if biopsies are taken

• Infection (rare)

• Perforation (tear) of the oesophagus or stomach (very rare)

• Reaction to sedation

• Unintended damage to surrounding structures

• Complications are uncommon. Contact the rooms or seek medical attention urgently if you experience severe chest pain, persistent vomiting, fever, black stools, or difficulty swallowing after the procedure.

• This is a day procedure, and most patients go home the same day. Provided that you were not admitted for something else