Upper_Endoscopy_508.pdf

8/14/2019 Upper_Endoscopy_508.pdf

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/upperendoscopy508pdf 1/6

Upper GI

Endoscopy National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse

U.S. Departmentof Health andHuman Services

NATIONALINSTITUTESOF HEALTH

What is uppergastrointestinal (GI)endoscopy?

UpperGIendoscopyisaprocedurethatusesalighted,flexibleendoscopetoseeinsidetheupperGItract. TheupperGItractincludestheesophagus,stomach,andduodenum—thefirstpartofthesmallintestine.

What problems can upperGI endoscopy detect?UpperGIendoscopycandetect

Upper GI endoscopy is a procedure that usesa lighted, flexible endoscope to see inside theesophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

• ulcers

• abnormalgrowths

• precancerousconditions

• bowelobstruction

• inflammation

• hiatalhernia

When is upper GIendoscopy used?UpperGIendoscopycanbeusedtodeter-

minethecauseof

• abdominalpain

• nausea

• vomiting

• swallowingdifficulties

• gastricreflux

Esophagus

Smallintestine

Stomach

Duodenum

• unexplainedweightloss

• anemia

• bleedingintheupperGItract

UpperGIendoscopycanbeusedtoremove

stuckobjects,includingfood,andtotreatconditionssuchasbleedingulcers. ItcanalsobeusedtobiopsytissueintheupperGItract. Duringabiopsy,asmallpieceoftis-sueisremovedforlaterexaminationwithamicroscope.



How to Prepare for UpperGI EndoscopyTheupperGItractmustbeemptybeforeupperGIendoscopy. Generally,noeatingordrinkingisallowedfor4to8hoursbeforetheprocedure. Smokingandchewinggumarealsoprohibitedduringthistime.

Patientsshouldtelltheirdoctoraboutallhealthconditionstheyhave—especiallyheartandlungproblems,diabetes,andallergies—andallmedicationstheyaretaking. Patientsmaybeaskedtotemporarilystoptakingmedicationsthataffectbloodclottingorinteractwithsedatives,whichareoftengivenduringupperGIendoscopy.

MedicationsandvitaminsthatmayberestrictedbeforeandafterupperGIendos-copyinclude

• nonsteroidalantiinflammatorydrugssuchasaspirin,ibuprofen(Advil),andnaproxen(Aleve)

• bloodthinners

• bloodpressuremedications

• diabetesmedications

• antidepressants

• dietarysupplements

Drivingisnotpermittedfor12to24hoursafterupperGIendoscopytoallowsedativestimetocompletelywearoff. Beforetheappointment,patientsshouldmakeplansfor

aridehome.

How is upper GI endoscopyperformed?UpperGIendoscopyisconductedatahospitaloroutpatientcenter.

Patientsmayreceivealocal,liquidanestheticthatisgargledorsprayedonthebackofthethroat. Theanestheticnumbsthethroatandcalmsthegagreflex. Anintravenous(IV)needleisplacedinaveininthearmifasedativewillbegiven. Sedativeshelppatientsstayrelaxedandcomfortable. Whilepatientsaresedated,thedoctorandmedicalstaffmonitorvitalsigns.

Duringtheprocedure,patientslieontheirbackorsideonanexaminationtable. Anendoscopeiscarefullyfeddowntheesopha-gusandintothestomachandduodenum. Asmallcameramountedontheendoscopetransmitsavideoimagetoavideomonitor,allowingcloseexaminationoftheintestinallining. Airispumpedthroughtheendoscopetoinflatethestomachandduodenum,mak-

ingthemeasiertosee. Specialtoolsthatslidethroughtheendoscopeallowthedoc-tortoperformbiopsies,stopbleeding,andremoveabnormalgrowths.

UpperGIEndoscopy2



Recovery from Upper GIEndoscopy

AfterupperGIendoscopy,patientsaremovedtoarecoveryroomwheretheywaitaboutanhourforthesedativetowearoff.Duringthistime,patientsmayfeelbloatedornauseated. Theymayalsohaveasorethroat,whichcanstayforadayortwo.Patientswilllikelyfeeltiredandshouldplantorestfortheremainderoftheday. Unlessotherwisedirected,patientsmayimmediately

resumetheirnormaldietandmedications.SomeresultsfromupperGIendoscopyareavailableimmediatelyaftertheprocedure.Thedoctorwilloftenshareresultswiththepatientafterthesedativehaswornoff.Biopsyresultsareusuallyreadyinafewdays.

What are the risksassociated with upper GIendoscopy?RisksassociatedwithupperGIendoscopyinclude

• abnormalreactiontosedatives

• bleedingfrombiopsy

• accidentalpunctureoftheupperGItract

Patientswhoexperienceanyofthefollow-ingraresymptomsafterupperGIendoscopyshouldcontacttheirdoctorimmediately:

• swallowingdifficulties

• throat,chest,andabdominalpainthat worsens

• vomiting

• bloodyorverydarkstool

• fever

3 UpperGIEndoscopy



Points to Remember• Uppergastrointestinal(GI)endoscopy

isaprocedurethatusesalighted,flex-ibleendoscopetoseeinsidetheupperGItract.

• ToprepareforupperGIendoscopy,noeatingordrinkingisallowedfor4to8hoursbeforetheprocedure. Smokingandchewinggumarealsoprohibited.

• Patientsshouldtelltheirdoctorabout

allhealthconditionstheyhaveandall medicationstheyaretaking.

• Drivingisnotpermittedfor12to24hoursafterupperGIendoscopytoallowthesedativetimetowearoff.Beforetheappointment,patientsshouldmakeplansforaridehome.

• BeforeupperGIendoscopy,thepatient willreceivealocalanesthetictonumbthethroat.

• Anintravenous(IV)needleisplacedinaveininthearmifasedativewillbegiven.

• DuringupperGIendoscopy,anendo-scopeiscarefullyfedintotheupperGItractandimagesaretransmittedtoa videomonitor.

• Specialtoolsthatslidethroughtheendoscopeallowthedoctortoperformbiopsies,stopbleeding,andremoveabnormalgrowths.

• AfterupperGIendoscopy,patientsmayfeelbloatedornauseatedandmayalsohaveasorethroat.

• Unlessotherwisedirected,patientsmayimmediatelyresumetheirnormaldietandmedications.

• PossiblerisksofanupperGIendoscopyincludeabnormalreactiontosedatives,bleedingfrombiopsy,andaccidentalpunctureoftheupperGItract.

Hope through ResearchTheNationalInstituteofDiabetesandDigestiveandKidneyDiseases(NIDDK)conductsandsupportsbasicandclinicalresearchintomanydigestivedisorders.

Participantsinclinicaltrialscanplayamoreactiveroleintheirownhealthcare,gainaccesstonewresearchtreatmentsbeforetheyarewidelyavailable,andhelpothersbycontributingtomedicalresearch. Forinfor-mationaboutcurrentstudies,visit

www.ClinicalTrials.gov.

For More InformationFactsheetsaboutotherdiagnostictestsareavailablefromtheNationalDigestiveDiseasesInformationClearinghouseat

www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov,including

• Colonoscopy

• ERCP (Endoscopic RetrogradeCholangiopancreatography)

• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

• Liver Biopsy

• Lower GI Series

• Upper GI Series

• Virtual Colonoscopy

American College of Gastroenterology

P.O.Box342260Bethesda,MD 20827–2260Phone: 301–263–9000

Fax:301–263–9025Email: [email protected]: www.acg.gi.org

4 UpperGIEndoscopy



5 Upper GI Endoscopy

American Gastroenterological Association4930 Del Ray AvenueBethesda, MD 20814Phone: 301–654–2055Fax: 301–654–5920Email: [email protected]: www.gastro.org

American Society for Gastrointestinal

Endoscopy

1520 Kensington Road, Suite 202Oak Brook, IL 60523Phone: 630–573–0600Fax: 630–573–0691Email: [email protected]: www.asge.org

Society of American Gastrointestinal

Endoscopic Surgeons

11300 West Olympic Boulevard, Suite 600Los Angeles, CA 90064Phone: 310–437–0585Fax: 310–437–0585Email: [email protected]: www.sages.org

AcknowledgmentsPublications produced by the Clearinghouseare carefully reviewed by both NIDDKscientists and outside experts. This publica-tion was reviewed by Michael Wallace, M.D.,Mayo Clinic.

You may also find additional information about thistopic by visiting MedlinePlus at www.medlineplus.gov.

This publication may contain information aboutmedications. When prepared, this publicationincluded the most current information available.For updates or for questions about any medications,contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administrationtoll-free at 1–888–INFO–FDA (1–888–463–6332) or

visit www.fda.gov. Consult your doctor for moreinformation.

The U.S. Government does not endorse or favor any

specific commercial product or company. Trade,proprietary, or company names appearing in thisdocument are used only because they are considerednecessary in the context of the information provided.If a product is not mentioned, the omission does notmean or imply that the product is unsatisfactory.



National Digestive DiseasesInformation Clearinghouse

2InformationWayBethesda,MD 20892–3570Phone: 1–800–891–5389TTY: 1–866–569–1162Fax:703–738–4929Email: [email protected]: www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov

TheNationalDigestiveDiseasesInformationClearinghouse(NDDIC)isaserviceoftheNationalInstituteofDiabetesandDigestiveandKidneyDiseases(NIDDK). TheNIDDKispartoftheNationalInstitutesofHealthoftheU.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices. Establishedin1980,theClearinghouseprovidesinformationaboutdigestivediseasestopeoplewithdigestivedisordersandtotheirfamilies,healthcareprofessionals,andthepublic.TheNDDICanswersinquiries,developsanddistributespublications,andworksclosely

withprofessionalandpatientorganizationsandGovernmentagenciestocoordinateresourcesaboutdigestivediseases.

Thispublicationisnotcopyrighted. TheClearinghouseencouragesusersofthisfactsheettoduplicateanddistributeasmanycopiesasdesired.

This fact sheet is also available at www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHAND HUMAN SERVICESNational Institutes of Health

NIH Publication No. 09–4333

May 2009

Documents

Upper_Endoscopy_508.pdf