Gastroscopy

This test is performed to evaluate various symptoms, including persistent abdominal pain, heartburn, nausea, vomiting and difficulty in swallowing.

You are required to not eat or drink for six hours prior to this test. Detailed instructions will be provided on booking your procedure.

A pre-assessment questionnaire will be completed during your booking. Please ensure you have all medications available during this process. Our friendly booking staff will inform you, if you are required to cease any specific medication.

After a consultation with the specialist Gastroenterology and anaesthetist, you will be escorted by our nursing staff to the endoscopy suite. There you will be given a light anaesthetic (Sedation) and placed on your side. A protective mouth guard is placed over your teeth. and an endoscope is passed into your mouth, down the oesophagus into the stomach and duodenum.  Small tissue samples (biopsies) are usually taken during the procedure, as required, which you will not feel during or after the procedure. The procedural time is approximately 15 minutes.

Gastroscopy is generally a safe procedure, especially when performed by experienced specialists.  Although rare, complications can occur.  These will be explained by the specialist on the day during your pre-procedure consultation.

After the procedure patients are monitored in the recovery room until the effects of the sedation have worn off.  This may take up to one hour.  You may find that your throat feels sore and irritated, or that your stomach feels bloated.  Patients are able to resume normal activities the following day.  Due to the sedation patients are not allowed to drive or operate machinery until the following day.