Explanation
Examination that allows the doctor to see directly into the inside of the digestive tract. Tiny tissue samplings for microscopic analysis are done during this exam (biopsies).
Upper endoscopy Indication(esophagus, stomach,duodenum)
In the esophagus
- Inflammation
- Varices
- Thickening of the wall
- Stenosis (narrowing) of the opening
In the stomach
- Inflammation
- Erosion
- Ulcer
- Varices
- Bacterias
In the duodenum
- Inflammation
- Ulcer
- Loss of the villi (important for absorption of food)
- Varices
- Bacterias
Procedure
Duration
About one hour (although the examination itself lasts only about 10 minutes
Preparation
Nothing to eat or drink 6 hours before the test or according to the instructions given by the doctor or the nurse. You can bring a favorite music or video.
The day of the exam, what do we do?
1. Conscious sedation
In the endoscopy room, the first thing that is done is to put in place an intravenous (we recommend Emla cream, applied 30 minutes on the site of the IV, to deaden the feeling of the stick). The doctor will give two types of medication - midazolam, which has a relaxing and sedative effect and allows not to remember the procedure; demerol or Fentanyl, which will decrease the discomfort that can be caused by the procedure itself. Sometimes, we also freeze the throat with a spray called lidocaine.
2. General anesthesia
In certain circumstances (young age in particular), the physician prefers to do the procedure under general anesthesia. Your child is then going to be brought into the operation room by the anesthetist, where your child will be put to sleep with a gas. Then, an intravenous will be started and IV medications will allow a deep sleep during the procedure. The anesthetist will assist the breathing of your child and the GI doctor will perform the procedure. In both cases your child will be brought to the recovery room until he/she is awake and able to drink.