Upper GI Endoscopy: Indications and Complications

Upper GI Endoscopy or EGD is a procedure to examine the upper part of the gastro intestinal tract (oesophagus and stomach)

Procedure

An endoscope is a thin flexible tube with a light and a camera which can transmit the images to a screen. During Upper GI endoscopy or EGD, the endoscope is inserted into the through mouth to examine the upper part of the gastro intestinal tract (oesophagus and stomach)

• For the procedure your doctor will give you a mild dose of sedative through an intra venous line to  help you relax during the procedure. A local anaesthetic will be applied to mouth through which the endoscope will pass. The images of the internal organs like stomach and oesophagus will be relayed to the monitor screen which your doctor will examine. Your doctor may take a piece of tissue from a site in the body to send it to a pathologist, to examine it for the presence of disease.

Indications for Upper GI endoscopy or EGD

• Difficulty in swallowing
• Pain in chest which is not related to a heart problem
• Persistent nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Blood in vomitus
• Unexplained weight loss
• Heartburn
• GERD
• Female sterilisation
• Removal of fibroids from the uterus

Preparation

Your doctor will ask you to avoid eating and drinking before the procedure. You will be required to inform your doctor about any medications that you’ve been taking. Your doctor might ask you to stop taking some of them like blood thinners before an endoscopic procedure. Inform your doctor about any previous allergies to local anaesthetics or sedatives.

Complications of Upper GI endoscopy or EGD

Endoscopy is a relatively safe procedure. In rare cases a complication is encountered. This may be:

• Internal bleeding due to the procedure or tearing or perforation of the stomach or esophagus: you may require a surgery to repair the organ
• Infection at the site of entry of the endoscope: this can be managed with the help of antibiotics
• Adverse effect of the sedative used, leading to burning at the site of injection, difficulty in breathing, and irregular heartbeat.

You are required to contact your doctor if you experience

• Fever
• Pain, swelling, redness, discharge of pus at the site where the endoscope was introduced through the skin
• Dark, tar coloured stool
• Blood in vomitus
• Pain in chest
• Shortness of breath
• Pain in abdomen

Recovery

You are advised to arrange for someone to drive you home from the hospital as it takes time for the effect of the sedative to wear off. You may feel mild discomfort in your throat for a day or two after the upper GI endoscopy, it will resolve in a few days.

Resources:

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• American Gastroenterological Association