Gastroscopy
What is a gastroscopy
Gastroscopy is a scopic examination of the gullet, stomach and the duodenum. During the examination it is possible to take out tissue samples of the mucous membrane.
Preparation
You must FAST which means that you are not allowed to eat or drink 6 hours before the examination. Important medicine can be taken with a little water in the morning. You must not take the stomach ulcer preparations Losec, Nexium, Pantoloc or Lanzo 14 days ahead of the gastroscopy. It is allowed to use antacids (Balancid, Alkasid, Link etc.).
The examination
With a spray of local anaesthetic the throat is numbed. That reduces the reflexes in the throat and makes it easier to insert the gastroscope. During the examination you are lying on the left side. Any denture is removed. You get a plastic mouthpiece between the teeth or gums in order not to bite on the scope. Now the tube is inserted through the mouthpiece and down the gullet. All the time you can breathe without problems.
During the examination itself it is important to relax well and breathe easily. You will sense an oppression of air in the stomach but most of the air is being sucked up again before the examination is over. It does not hurt to have tissue samples taken. The examination lasts about 5 minutes.
Afterwards
After about 1 hour the local anaesthetic has ceased to work and you are allowed to eat and drink again. You can leave the clinic immediately after the examination. If you have had sedative medicine - which is not routinely necessary - you can not drive a car or operate machines for the rest of the day. You can sense a little oppression in the stomach and soreness in the throat but that will cease within a few hours.
Result of the examination
You will get the result of the examination immediately. Results of tissue samples are available after 1 week.
Complications
Complications of the examination are extremely rare. If tissue samples are taken, there might, in extremely rare cases, occur bleeding, perforation of the esophagus, stomach or duodenum, depending on where the samples has been taken.
Should there shortly after the examination occur bleeding, fever and/or increasing pain, please contact the clinic, emergency doctor or emergency room
