Upper Endoscopy

If you experience persistent digestive symptoms, you shouldn’t ignore them. Specific symptoms may be a sign of a medical condition. And, sometimes, medical complications can arise if you do not receive treatment.

An upper endoscopy procedure can jumpstart your path to better digestive health by discovering the root cause of your problem.

This page will discuss what an upper endoscopy procedure is. We’ll also outline the preparation for upper endoscopy. We’ll then discuss what you can expect after this procedure. Lastly, we’ll discuss upper endoscopy risks.

An upper endoscopy uses a long flexible tube with a light and camera to view the upper digestive tract. The upper digestive tract includes your esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). You may also hear this procedure called an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or upper GI.

You may need an upper endoscopy to diagnose symptoms in the upper digestive tract. This procedure can diagnose symptoms by viewing structural abnormalities and obtaining tissue biopsies.

An upper endoscopy can diagnose the cause of symptoms such as:

• Chest or stomach pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Heartburn
• Weight loss
• Vomiting blood
• Gastrointestinal bleeding

This procedure can also diagnose the following conditions:

• Barrett’s esophagus
• Celiac disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Esophageal cancer
• Eosinophilic esophagitis
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Gastroparesis
• Hiatal hernia
• Peptic ulcer disease

But that’s not all an upper endoscopy can do. This procedure also offers therapeutic benefits. An upper endoscopy can treat symptoms or conditions by passing instruments through the endoscope.

Therapeutic benefits of an upper endoscopy procedure include:

• Controlling bleeding
• Removing tumors or polyps
• Opening narrowed areas
• Removing obstructed items
• Performing laser therapy
• Inserting feeding tubes

An upper endoscopy is the preferred procedure for the diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal conditions. This is because it also allows for the treatment of damage in the digestive tract.

Preparation for an upper endoscopy is vital to improving the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. You must follow the preparation guidelines, or you will need to reschedule your procedure.

You will need to stop taking blood thinners 5 days before your procedure. Blood thinners include:

• Aspirin
• Baby aspirin
• Coumadin
• Plavix

If you take blood thinners due to stent placement, your cardiologist will need to permit you to stop your medication.

Diabetes medication is also not allowed on the day of your procedure. We will check your blood sugar levels before the procedure and give you the necessary medicine.

On the day of your procedure, you can only take prescribed medications for:

• Blood pressure
• Breathing
• Heart
• Pain
• Seizures

You can take the above medications with a small sip of water 2 hours before arriving for your procedure.

Beginning at midnight on the day of your procedure, you cannot eat or drink anything. This means no water, gum, smoking, or smokeless tobacco. If you don’t follow the prep instructions, you risk your safety during the procedure. You will then need to reschedule for a later date.

You will receive anesthesia during the upper endoscopy procedure. This will put you into a deep sleep and prevent you from feeling any pain. Because of this, you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home afterward.

The sedation relaxes your gag reflex, which can cause you to choke if you attempt to eat or drink anything immediately after the procedure. For this reason, you should not resume eating or drinking until your gag reflex returns.

You may experience mild discomfort after the procedure, including:

• Bloating
• Sore throat
• Pain with swallowing
• Flatulence

These symptoms are completely normal. And they should resolve in a few days. But other symptoms may be a sign of a medical complication.

Contact our office if you develop any of the following symptoms after the procedure:

• Abdominal pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Fever
• Rectal bleeding
• Vomiting blood

If you can’t reach our office, you should go to the nearest emergency room to receive treatment.

Generally, an upper endoscopy procedure is safe and rarely results in complications. But there are minimal risks associated with this procedure.

Upper endoscopy risks include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Perforation of the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine
• Reaction to the anesthesia

If you have any concerns or questions about this procedure, you can contact our office.

An upper endoscopy procedure is the gold standard for diagnosing and treating digestive conditions in the upper digestive tract. This procedure involves minimal preparation and safety risks. You may benefit from an upper endoscopy if you have persistent digestive symptoms.

Dr. Sameer Islam is a gastroenterologist and West Texas native. He helps you heal from your digestive issues by getting to the root of your problem.

If you want to find relief from your digestive symptoms, you can schedule an appointment online or call our office at (806) 696-4440.