Endoscopy: When to follow up?

Endoscopy is usually done as a day care procedure in a hospital. You will be allowed to go home a few hours after the procedure, and overnight stay in the hospital is needed rarely. Before you are discharged from the hospital your doctor will advice regarding further follow-up visits. The time of next follow up appointment will be determined by the cause for which you have undergone endoscopy.

For example, if biopsy is taken during endoscopy, your doctor will inform you when to expect the results of biopsies or fluid samples, or if your gall bladder is removed by endoscopic surgery, you will be called for follow up after a few days.

Endoscopy is a safe procedure with low risk of complications but they can occur. Some complications such as infection may not become evident before you are discharged from the hospital. Consult your doctor if you develop any sign or symptom suggestive of complication such as black or dark coloured stools, blood in stool or vomiting, difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath, severe and persistent abdominal pain, chest pain, or high fever (temperature of 380C or 100.4F or above).

 You may take a follow-up appointment with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about endoscopy, your illness, or any medicine.

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