Unless otherwise directed, patients may immediately resume their normal diet and medications.
- Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is a procedure that uses a lighted, flexible endoscope to see inside the upper GI tract.
- To prepare for upper GI endoscopy, no eating or drinking is allowed for 4 to 8 hours before the procedure. Smoking and chewing gum are also prohibited.
- Patients should tell their doctor about all health conditions they have and all medications they are taking.
- Driving is not permitted for 12 to 24 hours after upper GI endoscopy to allow the sedative time to wear off. Before the appointment, patients should make plans for a ride home.
- Before upper GI endoscopy, the patient will receive a local anesthetic to numb the throat.
- An intravenous (IV) needle is placed in a vein in the arm if a sedative will be given.
- During upper GI endoscopy, an endoscope is carefully fed into the upper GI tract and images are transmitted to a video monitor.
- Special tools that slide through the endoscope allow the doctor to perform biopsies, stop bleeding, and remove abnormal growths.
- After upper GI endoscopy, patients may feel bloated or nauseated and may also have a sore throat.
- Unless otherwise directed, patients may immediately resume their normal diet and medications.
- Possible risks of an upper GI endoscopy include abnormal reaction to sedatives, bleeding from biopsy, and accidental puncture of the upper GI tract.
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