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Gastroscopy is an examination of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. It involves the use of an intravenous sedative which renders the patient lightly sleeping. This enables the patient to swallow a thin flexible tube, which is actually an electronic "eye". High quality colour images are displayed on a TV monitor (video endoscopy) or an eye-piece (fibreoptic endoscopy). Modern gastroscopy technique allows performance of this investigation with no distress at all to the patient. Patients usually cannot recall having the gastroscopy.
Gastroscopy has many advantages over its predecessor, barium meal x-ray, and these include:
Disadvantages of gastroscopy include higher cost, and a need for intravenous sedation.
Occasionally a biopsy will be required, eg to check that a stomach ulcer is not cancerous (the vast majority are not) and to check for the presence of a stomach bacterium (germ) called Helicobacter. This bacterium is now known to be the cause of most peptic ulcers and stomach cancers.
Patients presenting for gastroscopy should fast for 6 hours prior to the test. This fast may be broken with a glass of water if you are unduly thirsty. With some exceptions, all medications (eg for blood pressure, heart disease etc.) should be taken at the usual time, with a sip of water, even if it is during the "fasting period". Exceptions are tablets for diabetes which should be omitted for 12 hours prior to the gastroscopy.
Patients must organise transport home following the procedure. The person accompanying the patient should be available for advice given as a result of the gastroscopy, as the sedating drugs used make it difficult for the patient to remember details of conversations for the first hour or two after the procedure. To drive yourself within 24 hours of endoscopy is dangerous and illegal.