What is
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy?
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is an examination of the
lining of the esophagus, stomach, and upper duodenum with a
small camera (flexible endoscope) which is inserted down the
throat.
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Effects
of Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
This test is helpful in determining:
-
The cause of upper GI (gastrointestinal)
bleeding
-
The cause of swallowing difficulties
-
The presence of ulcerations or
inflammation
-
The cause of
abdominal pain
-
The condition of the stomach and
duodenum after an operation
-
The presence of tumors or other
abnormalities of the upper GI tract
-
Narrowing or tumors of the esophagus
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Candidates
for Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Some of
the symptoms that usually prompt an upper endoscopy are
swallowing difficulties, vomiting, bleeding, gastro reflux,
abdominal pain, or chest pain.
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Your
Consultation
To accomplish a safe and complete
examination, the stomach should be empty.
You will most likely be asked to have
nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours, or
more, before the procedure. Prior to the
scheduling you should inform your physician
of any medications you are taking, any
allergies, and all your health problems.
This information will remind your doctor
whether you need any antibiotics prior to
the test, what potential medications should
not be used during the exam because of your
allergies, and will give the scheduling
individual an opportunity to instruct you
whether any of your medications should be
held or adjusted prior to the endoscopy.
Knowledge whether you have any major health
problems, such as heart or lung diseases,
will alert the examiner of possible need for
special attention during the procedure.
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The Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Procedure
You will be given a sedative and an
analgesic. A local anesthetic
will be sprayed into your mouth to suppress
the need to cough or gag when the endoscope
is inserted. A mouth guard will be inserted
to protect your teeth and the endoscope.
Dentures must be removed.
In most cases, an intravenous line will be
inserted into your arm to administer
medications during the procedure. You will
be instructed to lie on your left side.
After the gag reflex has been suppressed by
the anesthetic, the endoscope will be
advanced through the esophagus to the
stomach and
duodenum. Air will be introduced
through the endoscope to enhance viewing.
The lining of the esophagus, stomach, and
upper duodenum is examined, and
biopsies can be obtained through
the endoscope. Biopsies are tissue samples
that are reviewed under the microscope.
After the test is completed, food and
liquids will be restricted until your gag
reflex returns. The test lasts about 5 to 20
minutes.
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Recovery
After the procedure, the patient will be
observed in the endoscopy suite or in a
separate recovery area for an hour, or until
the sedative or pain medication has worn
off. Someone should be available to take the
patient home and stay with them for a while.
Eating and drinking should be avoided until
the local anesthetic has worn off in the
throat and the gag reflex has returned,
which may take two to four hours. To test if
the gag reflex has returned, a spoon can be
placed on the back of the tongue for a few
seconds with light pressure to see if the
patient gags. Hoarseness and a mild sore
throat are normal after the procedure; the
patient can drink cool fluids or gargle to
relieve the soreness.
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Risks
There is a small chance of perforation
(hole) of the stomach, duodenum, or
esophagus; There is also a small risk of
bleeding at the biopsy site. A patient could
have an adverse reaction to the anesthetic,
medication, or tranquilizer. This reaction
could cause:
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Frequently Asked
Questions
Q: What is Esophagogastroduodenoscopy?
A:
In
medicine (gastroenterology),
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is a
diagnostic
endoscopic procedure that
visualises the upper part of the
gastrointestinal tract up to the
duodenum. It is considered a
minimally invasive procedure
since it does not require an incision into
one of the major body cavities and does not
require any significant recovery after the
procedure (unless
sedation or
anesthesia has been used).
Q: How do I prepare for an Esophagogastroduodenoscopy?
A:
Fasting is required overnight (6 to 12 hours
before the test). An informed consent form
must be signed. You may be told to stop
aspirin and other blood-thinning medications
for several days before the test.
Q: How will the test feel?
A:
The local anesthetic makes swallowing
difficult. This wears off shortly after the
procedure. The endoscope may stimulate some
gagging in the back of the throat. There may
be a sensation of gas, and the movement of
the scope may be felt in the abdomen.
Biopsies cannot be felt. Because of the
intravenous sedation, you may not feel any
discomfort and may have no memory of the
test.
Q: Are there risks involved in this
procedure?
A:
Endoscopy is a safe procedure and when
performed by a physician with specialized
training in these procedures, the
complications are extremely rare. They may
include localized irritation of the vein
where the medication was administered,
reaction to the medication or sedatives
used, complications from pre-existing heart,
lung or liver disease, bleeding may occur at
the site of a biopsy or removal of a polyp
(which if it occurs is almost always minor
and rarely requires transfusions or
surgery). Major complications such as
perforation (punching a hole through the
organ) are very rare and usually require
surgical repair.
Q: What can I expect during the procedure?
A:
It is most likely that before the procedure
the doctor will discuss with you why the
test is being ordered, whether there are
alternative means to accomplish the same,
and what possible complications may result
from the endoscopy. Practices vary amongst
physicians but you may have your throat
sprayed with a numbing solution and will
probably be given a sedating and pain
alleviating medication through the vein.
While lying on your left side the flexible
endoscope, the thickness of a finger, is
passed through the mouth into the esophagus,
stomach, and duodenum. This procedure will
NOT interfere with your breathing. Most
patients experience only minimal discomfort
during the test and many sleep throughout
the entire procedure
Q: What is
the purpose of an
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy?
A:
An EGD is performed to evaluate, and
sometimes to treat, such symptoms relating
to the upper gastrointestinal tract as:
-
pain in the chest or upper abdomen
-
nausea or vomiting
-
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
-
difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
-
bleeding from the upper intestinal tract
and related anemias
In addition, an EGD may be performed to
confirm abnormalities indicated by such
other diagnostic procedures as an upper
gastrointestinal (upper GI) x-ray series or
a CT scan. It may be used to treat certain
conditions, such as an area of narrowing
(stricture) or bleeding in the upper
gastrointestinal tract.
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