How long does an endoscopy take from start to finish?

When the exam is finished, the endoscope is slowly retracted through your mouth. An endoscopy typically takes 15 to 30 minutes.


Are you fully asleep during an endoscopy?

If you are having a general anaesthetic, then you will be asleep during the whole procedure and wake up once it is finished. If you are not having a general anaesthetic, you will be given a local anaesthetic where the endoscope will be inserted to numb the area and make the procedure easier.

How long after endoscopy can I go home?

After you have an endoscopy, you will stay at the hospital or clinic for 1 to 2 hours. This will allow the medicine to wear off. You will be able to go home after your doctor or nurse checks to make sure that you're not having any problems. You may have to stay overnight if you had treatment during the test.


How painful is a endoscopy?

The examination is very quick and takes on average 3-5 minutes to complete. This is not a painful procedure. Most patients are sensitive to the camera passing down the throat, so anaesthetic throat spray and a light sedative injection can make examination much more comfortable.

How long is sleep for endoscopy?

At this point, if you are receiving sedation, you will start to be sleepy and will most likely remain asleep throughout the procedure, which generally takes about 10 to 20 minutes. Because of the sedation medication, patients are generally unaware of what is going on and do not remember anything when they wake up.


Endoscopy Introduction - The Patient Journey



What can you not do after an endoscopy?

This means avoiding spicy, fried, or fatty foods that can irritate the digestive tract and cause discomfort. You should also avoid alcohol and caffeine, as these can also contribute to gastrointestinal irritation.

How will I feel after endoscopy?

bloating or nausea for a short time after the procedure. a sore throat for 1 to 2 days. to go back to your normal diet once your swallowing returns to normal.

How long are you sedated after an endoscopy?

After the procedure

You will stay for up to 2 hours while the effects of the anesthesia and sedative wear off. You will also need a ride home. Anesthesia and sedatives can temporarily affect your reaction time and judgment. The health care team will tell you how soon you can eat and drink.


What should you not do before an endoscopy?

Nothing to eat or drink at least 8 hours before the procedure. Medication can be taken 4 hours before examination with little sips of water. DO NOT TAKE ANY ANTACIDS OR CARAFATE BEFORE THE PROCEDURE or any of the medications mentioned.

Should I be nervous about an endoscopy?

Endoscopies are common and very low risk, and therefore there's no need to feel anxious. You will usually only experience slight discomfort, and experiencing endoscopic pain is very rare. Endoscopies are very safe and do not usually require anaesthetic.

Do I need someone to stay with me after endoscopy?

You should be able to go home as soon as you feel well enough to. For most people, this will be within a few hours. If you have sedation, you'll need someone to take you home and stay with you for 24 hours.


Can you be alone after endoscopy?

You need someone to stay with you the remainder of the day following your procedure. Because you had sedation, you should not be left alone. Rest the remainder of the day – your discharge instructions will inform you about returning to eating, work, etc.

What can be diagnosed with an endoscopy?

Common diagnoses include GERD, ulcers, and varices. Using a scope with ultrasound, or EUS, physicians can evaluate you for pancreatitis, liver cancer, and gallstones. Endoscopy can also guide biopsies within the upper GI tract or nearby structures.

Will I gag during endoscopy?

“All endoscopic procedures involve some degree of sedation, which relaxes you and subdues your gag reflex,” Dr. Perino said. “Being sedated during the procedure will put you into a moderate to deep sleep, so you will not feel any discomfort when the endoscope is inserted through the mouth and into the stomach.”


Does your throat hurt after an endoscopy?

You should have little or no pain following your procedure. If you have an upper endoscopy, you may have a slight sore throat that can be relieved with warm liquids, throat lozenges or, if necessary, Tylenol. If you have a colonoscopy, you may experience some cramping, gas or a sore rectum.

What drug do they use to sedate you for an endoscopy?

Ideal drugs for endoscopic sedation have a rapid onset and short duration of action, maintain hemodynamic stability, and do not cause major side effects. Commonly used agents include opiates, such as meperidine or fentanyl, benzodiazepines, such as midazolam or diazepam, or a hypnotic, such as propofol.

Do you keep your clothes on for an endoscopy?

Please wear loose comfortable clothing. You may keep most clothing on for upper endoscopy as well as comfortable shirt and socks for colonoscopy. Women may keep their bra on for the procedure. Please do not wear lotions, oils or perfumes/cologne to the center due to the monitoring devices.


Do you throw up after an endoscopy?

Other common side-effects from upper endoscopy include: Nausea and bloating. A sore throat for around 48 hours.

Can I work the next day after endoscopy?

It is recommended that you do not go back to work, do any strenuous exercise, drive, or sign any legal documents for 24 hours after the procedure. If you are taking any anti-coagulant medication (i.e., Coumadin, Heparin), please be sure to notify your doctor.

Is endoscopy something to worry about?

An endoscopy is a very safe procedure. Rare complications include: Bleeding. Your risk of bleeding complications after an endoscopy is increased if the procedure involves removing a piece of tissue for testing (biopsy) or treating a digestive system problem.


What type of cancers can an endoscopy detect?

This procedure is used to check for stomach cancer. An upper endoscopy—called endoscopic gastroduodenoscopy (EGD)—is a procedure that helps find most stomach cancers. During this test, a doctor looks inside your stomach with a thin, lighted tube called an endoscope.

Do they always take biopsy during endoscopy?

Hi Phoenix, In my experience, biopsies are taken whenever any endoscopy is performed, either of something specific or, if nothing is seen, randomly, to look for signs of, for example, inflammation.

Can you talk during endoscopy?

We know you like to talk, but from this point until the extraction of the endoscope you will be unable to do so. You can make noises, however, and you will not have a problem breathing. Remember, the scope is in your esophagus (food tube,) not your trachea (air tube.)


What does a positive endoscopy mean?

Positive findings in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy occur in 30 to 40% in relation to a benign or malignant structural disease. Negative findings occur therefore in 60 to 70% of cases: dyspepsia and/or reflux are functional diseases. Colonoscopy aims essentially at screening of colorectal cancer.

Can endoscopy detect colon problems?

03, 2017. Having an endoscopy and colonoscopy is the first step in detecting serious diseases, some of which can be fatal, such as colon cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates over 95,000 cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in 2016, with over 49,000 people dying from it.