You must make sure your stomach is empty before the procedure. In general, you will be asked to fast at least 6-8 hours before the gastroscope. You should continue to take medications that you usually take, such as hypertension. Always consult specialists like dr ganesh ramalingam singapore if you have any questions.
Dentures, glasses and contact lenses, if any, should be removed. Usually, some type of sedation will be given to make you feel more comfortable.
Procedure
You will have to lie down next to your head slightly tilted forward. The anesthetic will be sprayed to anesthetize the back of the throat, thereby reducing the need for vomiting. Your doctor will put a tooth drop on your teeth (so as not to bite the endoscope) before putting a well-oiled gastroscope in your mouth. Since the endoscope is carefully guided through the esophagus into the stomach, you will be asked to swallow. Try to relax and follow your doctor’s instructions. The nurse will usually be ready to suck out excess saliva from her mouth.
As soon as the gastroscope reaches your stomach, a little air will be pumped to expand the stomach. At this stage, you may experience a slight feeling of fullness in the stomach. Your doctor will then examine the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum in parts to make sure that all surfaces are examined. If a biopsy is necessary, this can be done by passing a small instrument through the lateral port of the gastroscope. Tissue samples can be sent to the laboratory for analysis to determine the nature of the tissue (that is, if it is benign or malignant). Tests are sometimes performed to detect H. pylori infections.
