An upper endoscopy, also known as an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, is a technique that examines your upper digestive tract visually. This is accomplished with a small camera attached to the end of a long, flexible tubing. Endoscopy is used by a gastroenterologist (a specialist in digestive illnesses) to identify and occasionally treat problems affecting the digestive tract’s upper section. Consult katy endoscopy today for more information.
Upper endoscopy is sometimes known as an esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Upper endoscopies can be performed at your doctor’s office, an outpatient surgical facility, or a hospital.
Why is it done?
Upper endoscopies are used to identify and, in some cases, treat disorders affecting the top section of the digestive system. The stomach, esophagus, and first part of the small intestine (duodenum) are all part of the upper digestive system.
Your doctor may advise you to get an endoscopy to:
- Investigate your symptoms
An endoscopy may help in determining what is causing digestive symptoms such as nausea, heartburn, vomiting, stomach discomfort, trouble swallowing, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Diagnose you
Endoscopy allows for collecting tissue samples (biopsies) to screen for illnesses and disorders that may be causing bleeding, anemia, inflammation, or diarrhea. It can also identify some upper digestive system tumors.
- Treat your conditions
To address intestinal disorders, special instruments can be passed through the endoscope. For example, an endoscopy can burn a bleeding vessel to halt bleeding, enlarge a small esophagus, snip off a polyp, or remove a foreign item.
Endoscopies are occasionally coupled with other procedures, such as ultrasounds. An ultrasound probe may be added to the endoscope to produce esophageal or stomach wall pictures. Endoscopic ultrasonography may also obtain pictures of difficult-to-reach organs such as your pancreas. Newer endoscopes rely on high-definition video to generate clearer images.
Narrow-band imaging technology has been used in several endoscopes. Narrow band imaging employs specialized light to aid in detecting precancerous diseases such as Barrett’s esophagus.
What to expect after an upper endoscopy
Upper endoscopy has a short recovery time and causes little discomfort. Grogginess from the sedation, sore throat, bloating, nausea, trouble swallowing, and slight discomfort where the IV was put are all possible post-procedure symptoms. These normally resolve themselves within 48 hours. Patients should plan for someone to drive them home because the effects of sedation might take hours to wear off.
When they go home, they should drink plenty of water to assist the sedative pass through their systems more quickly. Eating soft meals and liquids like broth can help recovery by reducing discomfort and making swallowing easier. Sucking on popsicles or hard sweets might help relieve a sore throat. Finally, walking might aid in the relief of bloating.