Patient information: Upper endoscopy

ENDOSCOPY OVERVIEW

An upper endoscopy, often referred to as endoscopy, EGD, or esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy, is a procedure that allows a physician to directly examine the upper part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which includes the esophagus (swallowing tube), the stomach, and the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine) (figure 1).

The physician who performs the procedures, known as an endoscopist, has special training in using an endoscope to examine the upper GI system, looking for inflammation (redness, irritation), bleeding, ulcers, or tumors.

REASONS FOR UPPER ENDOSCOPY

The most common reasons for upper endoscopy include:

• Unexplained discomfort in the upper abdomen
• GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease, (often called heartburn) (see "Patient information: Gastroesophageal reflux disease in adults")

• Persistent nausea and vomiting
• Upper GI bleeding (vomiting blood or blood found in the stool that originated from the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract). Bleeding can be treated during the endoscopy.
• Difficulty swallowing; food/liquids getting stuck in the esophagus during swallowing. This may be caused by a narrowing (stricture) or tumor. The stricture may be dilated with special balloons or dilation tubes during the endoscopy.
• Abnormal or unclear findings on an upper GI x-ray, CT scan or MRI.
• Removal of a foreign body (a swallowed object).
• To check healing or progress on previously found polyps (growths), tumors, or ulcers.

ENDOSCOPY PREPARATION

You will be given specific instructions regarding how to prepare for the examination before the procedure. These instructions are designed to maximize your safety during and after the examination and to minimize possible complications. It is important to read the instructions ahead of time and follow them carefully. Do not hesitate to call the physician's office or the endoscopy unit if there are questions.

You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for up to eight hours before the test. It is important for your stomach to be empty to allow the endoscopist to visualize the entire area and to decrease the possibility of food or fluid being vomited into the lungs while under sedation (called aspiration).

You may be asked to adjust the dose of your medications or to stop specific medications (such as aspirin-like drugs) temporarily before the examination. You should discuss your medications with your physician before your appointment for the endoscopy.

You should arrange for a friend or family member to escort you home after the examination. Although you will be awake by the time you are discharged, the medications used for sedation cause temporary changes in the reflexes and judgment and interfere with your ability to drive or make decisions (similar to the effects of alcohol).

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING ENDOSCOPY

Prior to the endoscopy, the staff will review your medical and surgical history, including current medications. A physician will explain the procedure and ask you to sign a consent. Before signing the consent, you should understand all the benefits and risks of the procedure, and should have all of your questions answered.

An intravenous line (a needle inserted into a vein in the hand or arm) will be started to deliver medications. You will be given a combination of a sedative (to help you relax), and a narcotic (to prevent discomfort).

Although most patients are sedated for the examination, many tolerate the procedure well without any medication.

Your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen level) will be monitored before, during, and after the examination. The monitoring is not painful. Oxygen is often given during the procedure through a small tube that sits under the nose and is fitted around the ears. For safety reasons, dentures should be removed before the procedure.

THE ENDOSCOPY PROCEDURE

The procedure typically takes between 10 and 20 minutes to complete. The endoscopy is performed while you lie on your left side. Sometimes the physician will give a medication to numb the throat (either a gargle or a spray). A plastic mouth guard is placed between the teeth to prevent damage to the teeth and scope.

The endoscope (also called a gastroscope) is a flexible tube that is about the size of a finger. The scope has a lens and a light source that allows the endoscopist to look into the scope to see the inner lining of the upper gastrointestinal tract, or to view it on a TV monitor. Most people have no difficulty swallowing the flexible gastroscope as a result of the sedating medications. Many people sleep during the test; others are very relaxed and generally not aware of the examination.

An alternative procedure called transnasal endoscopy may be available in some facilities. This involves passing a very thin scope (about the size of a drinking straw) through the nose. You are not sedated but a medication is applied to the nose to prevent discomfort. A full examination can be performed with this instrument.

The endoscopist may take tissue samples called biopsies (not painful), or perform specific treatments (such as dilation, removal of polyps, treatment of bleeding), depending upon what is found during the examination. Air is introduced through the scope to open the esophagus, stomach, and intestine, allowing the scope to be passed through these structures and improving the endoscopist's ability to see all of the structures. You may experience a mild discomfort as air is pushed into the intestinal tract. This is not harmful and belching may relieve the sensation. The endoscope does not interfere with breathing. Taking slow, deep breaths during the procedure may help you to relax.

ENDOSCOPY RECOVERY

After the endoscopy, you will be observed for one to two hours while the sedative medication wears off. The medicines cause most people to temporarily feel tired or have difficulty concentrating and you should not drive or return to work after the procedure.

The most common discomfort after the examination is a feeling of bloating as a result of the air introduced during the examination. This usually resolves quickly. Some patients also have a mild sore throat. Most patients are able to eat shortly after the examination.

ENDOSCOPY COMPLICATIONS

Upper endoscopy is a safe procedure and complications are uncommon. The following is a list of possible complications:

• Aspiration (inhaling) of food or fluids into the lungs, the risk of which can be minimized by not eating or drinking for the recommended period of time before the examination.
• The endoscope can cause a tear or hole in the tissue being examined. This is a serious complication but fortunately occurs only rarely.
• Bleeding can occur from biopsies or the removal of polyps, although it is usually minimal and stops quickly on its own or can be easily controlled.
• Reactions to the sedative medications are possible; the endoscopy team (doctors and nurses) will ask about previous medication allergies or reactions and about health problems such as heart, lung, kidney, or liver disease. Providing this information to the team ensures a safer examination.
• The medications may produce irritation in the vein at the site of the intravenous line. If redness, swelling, or discomfort occurs, your should call your endoscopist or primary care provider, or the number given by the nurse at discharge.

The following signs and symptoms should be reported immediately:

• Severe abdominal pain (more than gas cramps)
• A firm, distended abdomen
• Vomiting
• Any temperature elevation
• Difficulty swallowing or severe throat pain
• A crunching feeling under the skin of the neck

AFTER UPPER ENDOSCOPY

Most patients tolerate endoscopy very well and feel fine afterwards. Some fatigue is common after the examination, and you should plan to take it easy and relax the rest of the day.

The endoscopist can describe the result of their examination before you leave the endoscopy unit. If biopsies have been taken or polyps removed, you should call for results within one to two weeks.

WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION

Your healthcare provider is the best source of information for questions and concerns related to your medical problem. Because no two people are exactly alike and recommendations can vary from one person to another, it is important to seek guidance from a provider who is familiar with your individual situation.

This discussion will be updated as needed every four months on our web site (www.uptodate.com/patients). Additional topics as well as selected discussions written for healthcare professionals are also available for those who would like more detailed information.

Some of the most pertinent include:

Patient Level Information:
Patient information: Gastroesophageal reflux disease in adults

Professional Level Information:
Antibiotic prophylaxis for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures
Autofluorescence endoscopy for Barrett's esophagus
Endoscope disinfection
Endoscopic diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease
Endoscopic management of pseudocysts of the pancreas: Efficacy and complications
Endoscopic management of pseudocysts of the pancreas: Technique
Gastroenterologic procedures in patients with disorders of hemostasis
Magnification endoscopy
Overview of double balloon endoscopy
Overview of procedural sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy
Procedural sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy: Recommendations
Role of propofol and options for patients who are difficult to sedate for gastrointestinal endoscopy
Sedation-free gastrointestinal endoscopy

A number of web sites have information about medical problems and treatments, although it can be difficult to know which sites are reputable. Information provided by the National Institutes of Health, national medical societies and some other well-established organizations are often reliable sources of information, although the frequency with which they are updated is variable.

• National Library of Medicine

      (www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html)

• The American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy:

      (www.askasge.org)

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

      (http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/upperendoscopy/index.htm)

The author would like to acknowledge Maryanne Barretti, RN, Nurse Manager of Endoscopy at Mount Sinai Hospital, for her advice and critical input.

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