Gastroscopy is an endoscopic examination which enables thorough assessment of the upper gastrointestinal tract through imaging the esophagus, the stomach and the duodenum. Gastroscopy can be both a diagnostic and a therapeutic tool. Due to its therapeutic function, it enables removal of foreign body, stopping bleeding, removal of the polyps or widening of the narrowed passage.
There is a wide range of indications for undergoing gastroscopy. The examination should be performed in every patient over 45 years of age that suffers of any abdominal discomfort, and in any younger patient who reguires veryfication of diagnosis or differenciation. In case of alarming symptoms, such as rapid body mass loss, disturbed swallowing, fever, anemia, coffee ground or bloody vomit, the examination is absolutely necessary.
Diagnostic gastroscopy is ordered most frequently due to the following indications:
– dyspeptic symptoms (abdominal pain, eructation, flatulence, heartburn)
– suspicion of stomach or duodenal ulcers
– suspicion of cancer on the basis of the general symptoms
– dysphagia – difficulties in swallowing
– suspicion or presence of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract
– suspiction of drug-induced damages of the mucous membrane of the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients undergoing a long-term pharmacoherapy with non-steroid antyinflammatory drugs
– as a screening test or follow-up examination in patients with high risk of developing carcinoma (patiens suffering of chronic gastrooesophageal reflux disease, Barrett’s oesophagus, with anemia perniciosa in the course of the atrophic gastritis, after undergoing gastrectomy
During gastroscopy a flexible gastroscope is inserted through oral cavity. Before inserting the endoscope the throat is anesthesised with a 10% lidocaine solution.
Gastroscopy is a short procedure, lasting approx. 5-10 minutes. Despite being an invasive procedure, it is fairly safe and the complications occure very rarily.
As the patient is not exposed to any unhealthy factors during gastroscopy, the procedure can be repeated again in a short period of time, as many times as required. Occasionally the state of the patient or the performed treatments may demand repetition of the procedure even within 24 hours.
Gastroscopy enables colleting the histopathological or cytologial material, performing smears and assessing presence of Helicobacter pylori with the use of a direct test (so called, rapid urease test). The moment of collecting the material is not sensed by the patient. It influences the operating time but does not have any adverse effects on the safety of the procedure. Gastroscopy enables a correct diagnosis in most cases, e.g.:
– inflammatory diseases: baterial, viral and fungal
– changes caused by chemicals, e.g. acids and bases, gall, some medicines or physical factors like post-radiation changes of the benign and malignant carcinomas
– assessing the developmental stage of various changes and their classification, e.g. esophageal varices, gastrooesophageal reflux disease, gastric and duodenal ulcers, sites of bleeding from the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract.
In our Clinic the gastroscopy can be performed in anaesthesia on patient’s request.
Preparation for exams
Main rules regarding the preparation to gastroscopy:
6-8 hours prior to examination the refrain from eating and drinking
in rare cases drinking small amount of still mineral water is allowed (not more than 3 hours before examination). Olny if gastroscopy is performed in the afternoon, the patient is allowed to eat a light breakfast (this is also the only moment the patient can take cardiac or hypertension medications).