An upper endoscopy is a diagnostic procedure which helps the doctor or a surgeon examine the upper portion of the gastro-intestinal tract. The procedure can be used to examine the stomach, esophagus and the duodenum - all of which form the upper portion of the gastrointestinal tract. This procedure is known by many different names, and is most commonly referred to as Upper GI Endoscopy. The endoscope is a thin, long, wire-like instrument which has a camera and a light at one end. The end with the camera and light is inserted into the mouth and then lowered into the tract. While the endoscope is lowered further into the body, it keeps recording a video of the entire gastrointestinal tract and looks for any kind of abnormalities like tumors, lesions or other abnormal growths.
The video transmits the images to a monitor where the doctor can look at the images and screen the images to look for any particular abnormalities. The endoscope also has provisions of inserting other instruments in an adjoining sheath. By inserting different instruments inside this sheath, the doctor can also perform small surgeries for removing polyps, tumors or other tissues. The endoscope can also be used to retrieve tissue samples for conducting biopsies.
The endoscopy procedure could be done in a doctor's office or a clinical setting and you will be given sedation or local anesthesia to help relax your esophagus. The team of professionals that conduct this procedure include medical specialists known as gastroenterologists, who are trained specifically to perform endoscopic procedures. To prepare for the procedure, your doctor will give you a detailed set of instructions. Discuss with your doctor, all the medications that have been prescribed to you. The doctor may advise you to refrain from taking some of these.
If you have allergies from any drugs, be sure to tell your doctor about them. For the procedure to be performed, make sure that your stomach and duodenum are completely empty. To ensure this, do not eat or drink anything for up to eight hours before the surgery is scheduled.
During this time, you should not even drink any water.Before the procedure is begun, you will be given an enema to completely empty your stomach and bowels. You will also be given sedation or local anesthesia to relax the esophagus so that the endoscope can be inserted without causing you pain or discomfort. There may still be slight pain when the endoscope is finally inserted into the mouth
Submitted by M T on April 1, 2010 at 01:48