A gastroscopy can be used to check symptoms, diagnose conditions, and even treat conditions. 

A gastroscopy is used to investigate different symptoms, these may include: 

• Difficulty swallowing  
• Chronic abdominal pain
• Heartburn  
• Indigestion
• Vomiting of blood  

 It is used to diagnose conditions such as: 

• Stomach ulcers
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease  
• Hiatus hernia  
• Coeliac disease  

A gastroscopy is used to treat conditions such as: 

• Ulcers that are bleeding
• Potentially cancerous tumors  
• Non-cancerous growths/polyps  

A gastroscopy usually takes less than 15-30 minutes.  

You may be offered a sedative or pain relief on the back of your throat. This ensures you are comfortable throughout the procedure.  

Your consultant will place a tube into your mouth and then feed it down to your stomach. You are likely to be asked to swallow the tube to help guide it in the correct direction. The tube will then fall into your small intestine.  

Your consultant may pump air into the tube in order to get a better view. This will cause you to bloat which may be uncomfortable. The tube will initially create a retching feeling but this will ease.  

Your consultant may take biopsies. This will be painless. They will then gently remove the tube.  

 We understand that procedures such as a gastroscopy can be daunting for patients, but do not worry we will be there every step of the way to reassure you and answer any worries you may have.

If you were given a sedative you will be taken to the recovery room for a few hours until this wears off. The numbing spray in your throat will gradually wear off so you can eat again.  

Your consultant will then inform you of what they found. They will then arrange follow-up appointments or further treatments if necessary.  

You may experience a sore or dry throat but this will wear off and you can return to work the following day.

We understand the anxiety that comes along with any medical procedure, however, gastroscopy is usually very safe.  

Complications may include:  

• A reaction to the sedative causing problems with your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing  
• Tearing of the oesophagus, stomach or small intestine  
• Internal bleeding  
• Damage to the teeth
• Incomplete procedure 

If you have any concerns following the procedure please do not hesitate to contact us, we will be with you every step of the way even when you have left the hospital.