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Dr Kavin Nanda

07 3554 0282

Gastroscopy Specialist in Brisbane

Upper Endoscopy:

  • What is it?
    • Upper endoscopy (often called gastroscopy) is a procedure used to visually examine your upper digestive system with a tiny camera on the end of a long flexible tube.
    • Tissue samples may be taken.
    • An endoscopy is sometimes combined with other procedures, such as an ultrasound. An ultrasound probe may be attached to the endoscope to create specialised images of the wall of your oesophagus or stomach.
    • Special tools can be passed through the endoscope to treat problems in your digestive system, such as burning a bleeding vessel to stop bleeding, widening a narrow oesophagus with a balloon, or clipping off a polyp or removing a foreign object.
    • Many endoscopes allow Dr Nanda to use a technology called Narrow-Band-Imaging (NBI), which uses a special light to help better detect precancerous lesions.
  • Why it’s done:
    • An upper endoscopy is used to diagnose and, sometimes treat conditions that affect the upper part of your digestive system, including the oesophagus, stomach and beginning of the small intestine (duodenum).
    • Dr Nanda may recommend an endoscopy to:
      • Investigate upper gastro-intestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing and gastro-intestinal bleeding.
      • Treat problems in your digestive system such as bleeding, area of narrowing or a symptomatic polyp.
      • Follow-up a known disease – e.g. Barret’s Oesophagus
    • Usually upper endoscopy is performed  under deep sedation administered by an anaesthetist. The procedure may take 20-30 minutes, but you are in hospital for several hours.  It requires an empty stomach beforehand so one need to cease eating 6 hours prior to the procedure. You will also require 24 hours recovery before resuming responsible activities.

 

  • What are the Risks: Upper Endoscopy is generally a very safe procedure, the serious complication rate ranging from 1:1000 to 1:500. Rarely, complications may include:
    • Aspiration: This is where food or fluids are inhaled into the lungs during the procedure which can cause difficulty breathing and pneumonia. The risk is minimized by observing the recommended period of fasting
    • Bleeding:  this may occur from the site where a tissue sample (biopsy) was taken or a polyp or other abnormal tissue was removed. Minor bleeding may occur in 1:20 cases, wwhereas major bleeding requiring treatment is rare. (1:500).
    • Perforation: This is where a tear or hole occurs in the wall of the area being examined. This is very uncommon (1:>1000), but it is a serious complication.
    • Minor complications: such as transient abdominal pain, bloating,  fainting,  or minor bleeding can be more common (1:20) but generally require no intervention.
  • What are the Benefits:
    • Upper Endoscopy is a low risk, minimally invasive procedure.
    • It is a very accurate test for the detection of oesophageal and gastric cancer, polyps and other diseases of the upper gastro-intestinal tract (sensitivity >95%). 
    • It is a very useful diagnostic tool.