Patient instruction for UGI endoscopy

• Upper GI endoscope is a   tiny camera at the tip of a thin tube that transmits images to a video monitor in the exam room. It detects problems in food pipe, stomach, and duodenum.If you are suffering from unexplained abdominal pain,  difficulty in swallowing or excessive fatigue, weight loss or loss of appetite. This procedure will help to know the problem  
• Instructions before the procedure for the patient undergoing this procedure 
• Food and medications

1. You will need to stop drinking and eating up to eight hours before your endoscopy to ensure your stomach is empty for the procedure.
2. Please inform us about all the medications and supplements you're taking before your endoscopy. 
3. If you are heart patient, please inform us if you are taking blood-thinning medications, Tab. Warfarin  

Other precautions

1.  Arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure. You may also need to take the day off from work.

Before the procedure in the Endoscopy room

1. Before your upper endoscopy procedure, you'll be asked to lie down on a table on your back or on your side. 
2. Monitors may be attached to your body to allow your health care team to keep tabs on your breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate.
3. At this time, you may receive a sedative medication. It helps you relax during the endoscopy.
4. An anesthetic spray in your mouth helps to numb your throat in preparation for insertion of the endoscope. 
5. You will be asked to wear a plastic mouth guard to hold your mouth open.

During the procedure

1. Your cooperation is very important during the procedure 
2. The doctor will insert the endoscope in your mouth. 
3. When you will be asked to swallow the scope passes down your throat with some pressure in the throat.   
4. The endoscope doesn't interfere with your breathing so relax.

As your doctor passes the endoscope down your esophagus:

• A tiny camera at the tip transmits images to a video monitor in the exam room. Your doctor watches this monitor look for abnormalities in your upper digestive tract. If abnormalities are found in your digestive tract, your doctor may record images for later examination.
• Gentle air pressure may be fed into your esophagus to inflate your digestive tract. This allows the endoscope to move freely. And it allows your doctor to more easily examine the folds of your digestive tract. You may feel pressure or fullness from the added air.
• Your doctor will pass special surgical tools through the endoscope to collect a tissue sample or remove a polyp. Your doctor watches the video monitor to guide the tools.

When your doctor has finished the exam, the endoscope is slowly retracted through your mouth. An endoscopy typically takes 15 to 30 minutes, depending on your situation.

After the procedure

• You'll be taken to a recovery area to sit or lie quietly after your endoscopy. 
• You may stay for an hour or so. This allows your health care team to monitor you as the sedative begins to wear off.

Results

• When you receive the results of your endoscopy will depend on your situation. If, for instance, your doctor performed the endoscopy to look for an ulcer, you may learn the findings right after your procedure. 
• If he or she collected a tissue sample (biopsy), you may need to wait a few days to get results from the testing laboratory. Ask your doctor when you can expect the results of your endoscopy.