Upper Endoscopy
An endoscopy is a procedure in which a camera is inserted into the mouth and down the esophagus into the stomach, and then the duodenum, the first portion of the small bowel.
Patients undergoing endoscopy are instructed to prep for the exam by not eating for several hours before the procedure.
Before the endoscopy begins, the patient is given an IV through which a sedative can be administered. This is done just before the procedure starts, and renders the patient unable to recognize or feel the presence of an obtrusive object during the exam.
The patient’s mouth is held open with a plastic guard and a spray is applied to the mouth and throat to numb the area and thus deactivate the patient’s gag reflex.
A thin tube containing a fiber-optic camera is used to investigate the path of the gastrointestinal system extending from the mouth through the anterior small intestine. The medical doctor looks for any problems including ulceration, scarring, tumors, and other damaged tissue.