The Comprehensive Guide of Gastroscopy in Diagnosis and Treatment
What is a Gastroscopy?
Gastroscopy is a procedure used to examine the upper part of the digestive system. It involves passing the endoscope , a long, thin, flexible tube with a video camera at the end, through the mouth into the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). The endoscope transmits images from the camera to a television screen. The procedure typically takes about 15 minutes.
Why is Gastroscopy Performed?
Gastroscopy is usually performed to evaluate symptoms of indigestion, upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or difficulty swallowing. It is also the best test to find the cause of bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Gastroscopy can provide detailed information about the appearance of the digestive lining. The information obtained during the procedure can reveal the cause of your symptoms and assist your doctor in further treatment.
Gastroscopy is also used to treat conditions of the upper digestive tract. Your doctor can pass small tools through the endoscope to directly treat many abnormalities with little or no discomfort. For example, your doctor might dilate a narrowed area, take biopsies (tissue samples) for lab testing, or treat bleeding.
Pre-Gastroscopy Procedures
In fact, there are no very important things to do before a gastroscopy. About 8 hours of fasting is sufficient before the procedure.
If the patient is to undergo gastroscopy as the first case in the morning, we recommend not eating or drinking anything after midnight. However, the first important thing here is if the patient has any other illness.
If they are using a blood thinner, if something needs to be treated during the procedure, for example, if a tumor needs to be removed, if the tumor is in an early stage, which we call mucosal resection, it should be removed from this patient.
Blood thinners, aspirin, blood-thinning injections under the skin, and the blood-thinning pills called Coumadin should be discontinued at least 5 days prior, under a doctor’s consultation.
Serious concomitant diseases should be shared with the patient undergoing the procedure beforehand. Before we start the procedure, we apply to the patient not only to perform this procedure but also by talking about other accompanying problems.
During Gastroscopy
Gastroscopy is not a very scary procedure as is commonly thought. It can be done in two ways. It is done by putting the patient to sleep. It can also be done without sleep, according to the patient’s request or the doctor’s preference.
Before performing a gastroscopy, the anesthesiologist in the team performing the procedure opens the patient’s vascular access and after establishing access to the blood vessels, the patient is monitored after being placed on the table in the left lateral position, which you see in the procedure.
In other words, when needles are given to relax the patient during the procedure, there is a monitor that controls the patient’s blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen level in the body.
The steps that are followed during the gastroscopy procedure are as follows:
- Lie on your back or side.
- Devices are connected to the body to monitor breathing, blood pressure and heart rate.
- The spray is sprayed into the throat to reduce the gag reflex.
- Anesthesia or similar medications are given to relieve discomfort and discomfort that may occur during the procedure.
- The endoscopic instrument is inserted through the mouth.
- The application takes 5-20 minutes depending on the situation.
- In the following hours, the anesthesia loses its effect, the monitors disconnect, and the patient can go home after a short rest.
- Patients who are anesthetized or similar drugs should stay away from activities that require attention, such as driving, after the operation.
Risks of Gastroscopy Procedure
Although complications can occur, they are rare and will be discussed with you before the procedure.
Performing a gastroscopy carries a slight risk of causing a perforation in the digestive tract. This occurs, on average, no more than once in every 1000 tests. These perforations can be repaired surgically.
The use of anesthesia can affect your breathing. To minimize this, your pulse, oxygen level, and breathing will be constantly monitored throughout the procedure.
The endoscopist may advise against exposure to anesthesia if you are at high risk of breathing difficulties during the procedure.
Complications of gastroscopy include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Perforation of the digestive tract
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty swallowing
- Abdominal pain
- Swelling
- Vomiting or nausea
What Happens After Gastroscopy?
- You will be monitored until most of the effects of the anesthetic medication wear off. Your throat may be slightly sore, and you may feel bloated due to the air that enters your stomach during the test.
You will be able to eat after leaving unless your doctor instructs otherwise. - You should expect to be with us for approximately 3-4 hours.
- If you choose not to have anesthesia, you can go home immediately after the procedure.
- In most cases, your doctor will briefly inform you of the test results on the day of the procedure. The results of any biopsies or tissue samples will take several days. You will be able to discuss your biopsy results with your doctor or the referring physician.
- Full recovery is expected by the next day. Discharge instructions should be read carefully and followed.
Reasons for Performing Gastroscopy
Gastroscopy is used to diagnose and treat upper gastrointestinal diseases, including those of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Below are some common reasons for performing gastroscopy:
- Abdominal Pain or Digestive Issues: If you experience abdominal pain or digestive problems that cannot be identified through other tests, your doctor may recommend gastroscopy to look for any changes in the lining of the stomach or esophagus.
- Acidity and Acid Reflux Conditions: Gastroscopy can be used to evaluate persistent acidity or acid reflux, where it can be seen if there is damage to the esophageal valve.
- Unexplained Weight Loss: If you are losing weight without a clear reason, your doctor may suggest gastroscopy to check for any issues in the digestive system.
- Foreign Body Detection: If you have swallowed a foreign object or ingested a toxic substance, your doctor may recommend gastroscopy to explore the foreign body and determine its impact.
- Ulcer and Tumor Examination: Gastroscopy can be used to check for ulcers in the stomach lining as well as to monitor and evaluate tumors and assess their nature.
- Gastritis and Enteritis Evaluation: Gastroscopy can be used to diagnose and evaluate gastritis or enteritis and determine its cause.
Types of Gastroscopy
Diagnostic Gastroscopy
Diagnostic gastroscopy is used to examine the upper digestive tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. It can be used to determine the presence or severity of various medical conditions, including:
- Gastric or duodenal ulcers
- Stomach or esophageal cancer
- Gastritis and enteritis
- Esophageal reflux
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract
- Benign or malignant tumors
- Foreign bodies
Diagnostic gastroscopy is usually performed in an outpatient clinic or hospital. The patient is given a sedative before the procedure, making them feel drowsy and relaxed.
A flexible endoscope is inserted through the mouth into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. A small camera at the tip of the endoscope is used to display images on a screen. The doctor can then examine the lining of the upper digestive tract for any problems.
Therapeutic Gastroscopy
Therapeutic gastroscopy can be used to perform a variety of therapeutic procedures, including:
- Removal of benign or malignant growths
- Stopping bleeding
- Dilation of strictures
- Placement of stents
- Injection of medications
Therapeutic gastroscopy is usually performed in a hospital. The patient is given a sedative before the procedure, making them feel drowsy and relaxed.
A flexible endoscope is inserted through the mouth into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. A small camera at the tip of the endoscope is used to display images on a screen. The doctor can then perform the required therapeutic procedure.
Difference Between Diagnostic and Therapeutic Gastroscopy
The main difference between diagnostic and therapeutic gastroscopy lies in the purpose of the procedure. Diagnostic gastroscopy is used to examine the upper digestive tract for any issues, while therapeutic gastroscopy is used to perform a variety of therapeutic procedures.
Organs Examined by Endoscopy:
Gastroscopy is used to examine the upper part of the digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. A flexible endoscope is inserted through the mouth into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, where a small camera at the tip of the endoscope displays images on a screen. The doctor can then examine the lining of these organs for any issues.
The esophagus, stomach, and duodenum are examined, and the endoscope can be used to detect various medical conditions, including:
- Gastric and duodenal ulcers
- Stomach and esophageal cancer
- Gastritis and enteritis
- Esophageal reflux
- Bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract
- Benign or malignant tumors
Turkey Healthcare Group stands out with a team of distinguished medical experts in Turkey, who always strive to provide the best healthcare services to patients.
If you are looking for exceptional healthcare or need medical consultation from top doctors, feel free to contact us.
We also invite you to view our leading medical staff and get to know their qualifications and experiences up close.
We are here to ensure you receive the best possible healthcare.
