Having an endoscopy may seem like a scary thought. You probably won’t know exactly what to expect. But the information in this article will help make you feel more comfortable about the procedure.
Here are the things you should know before your first endoscopy.
What is an endoscopy?
The purpose of an endoscopy is to look inside your digestive tract to examine a problem. For example, in the colon (bowel), stomach or oesophagus (food pipe).
It uses an instrument called an endoscope – a thin, flexible tube containing a light and camera lens. This shows images from inside your body on a screen.
Endoscopies are often a crucial part of making sure that you have an accurate diagnosis.
What to expect during an endoscopy procedure
Endoscopies are usually performed by a gastroenterologist. This is a physician who specialises in the digestive tract.
In digestive health, endoscopies are usually described as:
- Gastroscopy – examines the upper digestive tract
- Colonoscopy – examines the lower digestive tract
When preparing for an endoscopy, talk to your doctor or the specialist who’ll perform the procedure. They’ll discuss:
- Your medical history
- Reasons for having the procedure
- And any special instructions for you before your appointment.
You aren’t normally put under general anaesthetic. It isn’t painful to have an endoscopy. You may have a local anaesthetic (for example, to numb your throat) to reduce discomfort or you can have sedation to make you sleepy and relaxed.
For a gastroscopy you lie down on your side with your head propped up. The clinical team passes a tube through a mouth protector and down your throat.
A colonoscopy explores the inside of the colon (the large bowel). It’s carried out by inserting the endoscope into your bottom while you lie on your side.
Endoscopies last about ten to 45 minutes, depending on what doctors are investigating. Usually patients return home the same day.
Find out more about endoscopy in this animated video:
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Why you might need an endoscopy
An endoscopy enables doctors to check changes in your bowel habits or unusual symptoms that could be causing problems with:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Heartburn
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Bloating and excess wind
- Abdominal pain
- Blood in your poo or vomit
- Unexpected weight loss
It also gives doctors a chance to take tissue samples for lab tests to confirm a diagnosis.
Endoscopy may form part of treatments, too, such as:
- Radio-wave therapies
- Sealing bleeding vessels during keyhole surgery
- Or removing growths from the colon.
Gastroenterologists use endoscopies to screen for many other conditions, including:
- Stomach ulcers and other bleeding inside the digestive tract (e.g. gastritis).
- Inflammatory bowel disease (digestive tract disorders including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
- Diverticular disease and diverticulitis
- Colorectal cancer (bowel cancer screening)
Types of endoscopy
Millions of endoscopies take place every year. They are extremely useful for diagnosing and treating a large number of conditions.
There is slight discomfort involved, but it is a safe procedure with a low risk of complications.
Below we explain more about the main types of endoscopy for digestive disorders:
Gastroscopy
Doctors will use gastroscopy (or ‘upper endoscopy’) when they need to examine your upper digestive tract. This may include your:
- Oesophagus (food pipe)
- Stomach
- Duodenum (first part of small intestine)
During this procedure the endoscope passes into your mouth and down the throat. The preparation and recovery for gastroscopy are easy and straightforward. You shouldn’t eat or drink for about six to eight hours before the procedure.
Go to our special webpage to find out about having a private gastroscopy. Here you can also see our video FAQs featuring one of London’s leading consultant gastroenterologists, Dr Sarmed Sami.
Colonoscopy
When doctors examine the colon with an endoscope, they call it a colonoscopy. The colon is the large tube in the gut that connects your small intestine and rectum.
The procedure is sometimes known by different names if doctors are checking different parts of the digestive tract.
- When the endoscope goes no further than the anus it’s called anoscopy
- When examining the rectum it’s called proctoscopy
- When the endoscope goes to the sigmoid colon (where the large intestine joins the rectum), it’s called sigmoidoscopy.
To prepare for any bowel examination, you’ll need to take a laxative the day before. You may also need to reduce the amount of fibre you eat in the days leading up to the colonoscopy.
Learn more on our special webpage about having a private colonoscopy. Also watch our health care videos with the founder of Digestive Health UK, Dr Sarmed Sami.
Capsule endoscopy
Capsule endoscopy uses a small, wireless pill-sized camera that you swallow. As it passes through your digestive tract, it sends pictures to a receiver on a belt around your waist. It enables doctors to see throughout the small intestine, which isn’t fully accessible with standard endoscopes.
The capsule leaves your body when you have your next bowel movement, and it’s simply flushed down the toilet.
Book an appointment
Digestive Health UK is a collaborative team of specialised doctors.
To arrange a face-to-face or remote consultation with our team of expert gastroenterologists in central London, use the link below.
