A gastroscopy can help detect multiple serious health conditions that may be overlooked as abdominal pain. Certain conditions such as GERD and H.Pylori infections can lead to chronic inflammation along the walls of the oesophagus and stomach lining, which may lead to cancer development in the longterm.
It is essential to schedule gastroscopic investigations as needed, as early cancer may have no other symptoms or minimal discomfort. Early detection of ulcers and cancer increases the chances of a full recovery due to expediated treatment and reduced complications.
Those with Barrett’s oesophagus are required to have regular gastroscopies. The procedure is done to check if there are any malignant changes in the cells found in the lining of the food pipe that can lead to cancer. During the routine endoscopies, biopsies or samples of abnormal looking areas will be taken. The samples are sent to the laboratory to be examined.
A gastroscopy allows your doctor to diagnose and investigate problems in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Patients who suffer from symptoms such as chronic and persistent abdominal pain or heartburn are recommended to undergo a gastroscopy to diagnose potential long term health issues.
Gastroscopy is also considered the primary tool for oesophageal and stomach cancer risk assessment and prevention. A gastroscopy can be used to detect and manage ulcers along the stomach walls. It can also help prevent cancers in patients with high risk factors. Doctors can also detect and remove non-cancerous polyps (or growths) found in the stomach or even cancerous growths in some cases.
Make sure to tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or have any health conditions, such as heart disease or cancer. This information helps your doctor know whether to take any necessary precautions to perform the procedure as safely as possible.
Blood tests might be done before the procedure to check the blood level and how well it clots. If you are taking regular medications, you need to inform the doctor about it so they will know if you are taking something that changes how your blood clots.
You should also tell your doctor about any allergies you have and about any prescription and over-the-counter medications you’re taking.
Some medications can increase your risk for bleeding during the procedure. These medications include:
Any medications that cause drowsiness can interfere with the sedatives that the procedure will require. Antianxiety medications and many antidepressants could affect your response to the sedative. If you take insulin or other medications to control diabetes, it’s important to make a plan with your doctor as well so your blood sugar doesn’t get too low.
For your safety, the doctor may tell you to change your dosage or to stop taking certain medications before the endoscopy. This is why a pre-procedure consultation is required.
Make sure you understand the risks of the procedure and the complications that might occur. Complications are rare, but can include the following:
You will be sedated to help you relax during the endoscopy. You shouldn’t drive after the procedure because the sedatives will make you drowsy. Arrange to have someone pick you up and drive you home.
You shouldn’t eat or drink anything before the procedure. This includes gum or mints. However, you can usually have clear liquids after midnight 6-8 hours before the endoscopy if your procedure is in the afternoon. Clear liquids include:
You should avoid drinking anything red or orange.
Make sure to wear comfortable clothes and avoid wearing jewellery. You’ll be asked to remove glasses or dentures before the procedure.
Make sure to fill out the consent form and any other paperwork that your doctor has requested.
You may have mild discomfort in your throat after the procedure so do take the time to drink loads of water and to avoid fried food so as not to aggravate the discomfort in your throat.
The sedatives may take a while to wear off. Therefore, it is recommended to take time off work or to avoid signing any important documents as you may not be in the best state of
mind to make important decisions. For your own safety, you should also avoid driving and operating machinery until you’re completely recovered.
These are the common factors:
Make sure to follow all your doctor’s recommendations.
After completing the procedure, most patients will rest for approximately an hour before the sedative starts to wear off. Patients are advised to avoid driving and operating machinery for the next 24 hours to allow the sedative to wear off completely.
Yes, you can. Please feel free to contact us to obtain precise gastroscopy fees. Our friendly clinic staff will be glad to assist you with the available financing options.
Dr Dennis Koh graduated from University of Nottingham, United Kingdom with a Bachelor in Medicine and Bachelor in Surgery (MBBS) as well as a Bachelor in Medical Science. He then furthered his medical education and embarked on his surgical training in Singapore. He obtained his Master of Medicine in Surgery from National University of Singapore in 2005.
Our host, Jerald Foo, will be taking you to our first centre at Jurong East.
Your doctor will also fix an appointment where the gastroscopy procedure and findings will be explained (this also includes the results of any biopsies taken). The appropriate management plan will also be discussed. You will also be advised on the precautions and possible complications of the procedure.
Gastroscopy is done to further investigate certain digestive symptoms before duodenal, esophageal, and stomach diseases are diagnosed. Some of the symptoms include:
Gastroscopy is also considered the primary tool for esophageal and stomach cancer risk assessment and prevention. It can also help prevent cancers in patients with high risk factors. Gastroscopy can also detect precancerous growths and remove them during the process to prevent them from becoming cancerous.
A gastroscopy is a short procedure that typically takes less than 15 minutes. A local anaesthetic is used to numb the throat. Once the local anaesthetic has been administered, a small plastic guard is placed in the mouth to protect the teeth and hold the mouth open. A sedative medication may also be given to help the patient relax. The patient will lie down on their left hand side and the endoscope is inserted into the throat.
The endoscopist will then navigate the scope down the throat and into the stomach. There is no discomfort or gagging sensation felt by the patient as both the topical local anaesthesia and intravenous sedation are administered. Most patients will report that they don’t feel any discomfort during and after the scopes.
As the endoscope moves down the oesophagus, doctors may do any of the following:
As soon as the examination is complete, the endoscope will be gently pulled out of the mouth. The patient will be taken to a recovery area to rest for around an hour or until the sedative has worn off.
Patients scheduled for gastroscopy will need to fast for at least 6 hours prior to the procedure. Generally, most medications can be continued except for blood thinners and diabetic medications.
Since you will be given medications that can make you sleepy, you must not work or drive after the procedure It is likely that you will be asked to avoid any of the following in the next 24 hours after the procedure:
It is possible that you will also experience throat or stomach pains after the procedure. This is normal and should disappear in a few hours. However, you need to visit the hospital or get in touch with your doctor right away if you experience any of the following:
Gastric pain is sometimes referred to as non-ulcer dyspepsia or functional dyspepsia by your doctor. When you have such pains, your doctor will recommend ruling out organic causes first. Some of the possible organic causes include inflammation, ulcers, infection by Helicobacter Pylori, and cancer.
If these test results are negative, the gastric pain is then referred to as non-ulcer dyspepsia. The term dyspepsia refers to the presence of recurrent or persistent discomfort or abdominal pain centered in the upper abdomen.
When to Visit Your Doctor
If you suffer from gastric pain and have the following signs and symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately:
In addition, you should see a doctor if these symptoms and signs have appeared just recently and persist. In many cases, gastric pain symptoms are mild, episodic, and are long-standing. Some can even have had such pains that began many years ago. Those symptoms are less likely to indicate any serious health issues.
Non-ulcer dyspepsia has no definite cause. However, many doctors associate it with stress.
In a minority of cases, the tests can reveal that the underlying cause can be any of the following:
Gallstones typically do not have any symptoms or signs. However, when the gallbladder is inflamed or there is blockage of the bile duct, the patient can experience severe upper abdominal pain.
Occasionally, gallstones can also cause blockage of the bile duct or significant gallbladder inflammation. CT scans and ultrasound scans can help detect the presence of gallstones and their complications.
This is a chronic condition where the bile or stomach acid flows back (ie reflux back) into the esophagus (food pipe) and irritates its lining. To rule out GERD, a gastroscopy may be recommended.
A thin tube that contains a tiny camera at the tip is passed through the mouth to examine the esophagus, stomach and first part of the duodenum. (EGD – esophagogastroduodenoscopy)
Dyspepsia is caused by inflammation /”sores” in the stomach’s innermost layer or duodenum wall (where the small intestine connects to the stomach). Some are severe enough to cause erosions resulting in defects Most peptic ulcers are caused by the Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection.
At times, it can also be attributed to the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like painkillers or aspirin. H. pylori infection can be ruled out through a stool test, blood test, urea breath test, or by tests done during endoscopy.
Pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, or stomach cancer can also cause persistent upper abdominal pain. Cancer is ruled out during endoscopy as this allows the endoscopist to remove small pieces of tissue (biopsy) after which these can be examined for cancerous cells under the microscope (histopathology).
Alternatively, non-invasive methods e.g. barium meal x-ray examination may also be done – but these are increasingly obsolete.
Whether it’s non-ulcer dyspepsia or caused by something else, simple lifestyle changes can lower your risk of experiencing gastric pain. Some of the ways you can avoid gastric pain include:
We provide comprehensive financing options for a seamless and hassle-free screening experience for our patients with various insurance plans. Some plans include cashless services for colonoscopies. To learn more about your financing options and check your eligibility for a cashless procedure, contact our friendly clinic staff for assistance.
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