 ¿What
is it?
The previous terms written down
are synonymous and correspond to the examination of the
internal coating (mucous) of the hypopharynx, esophagus,
stomach and the superior portion of the duodenum, by means of
an optical device (a small camera) located on a flexible
tubular element (video endoscope) that goes through the throat.
¿How is it done?
Local anesthesia is applied
on the patient´s tongue and throat to diminish the cough and
nausea that appear when introducing the endoscope. The
removable dental prosthesis is taken out and to protect the
teeth and gums (and also the endoscope) a (mouth piece will
be placed in your mouth) buccal protector is put on.
In all cases, our anesthesiologists, administer sedative
medicines intravenously in the arm (the effect is very
smooth and short) to facilitate the procedure, to be very
relaxed, not having an urge to defecate nor nausea or vomit
and have amnesia or totally not remember the examination.
This is what is called Conscientious Sedation.
Once the Conscientious Sedation is administered, the
endoscope goes through the esophagus until it reaches the
stomach and until the second portion of the duodenum,
through the introduction of air to facilitate the
visualization of the mucous surface and eventually take, if
it is necessary, biopsies (tissues samples taken with a
special clamp to be analyzed under the microscope by our
Pathologist).
After the examination has been
completed, there are no special diet restrictions;
nevertheless we recommended a soft diet, without dairy
products and acids for the next 6 hours.
¿How long does it last?
The examination lasts
approximately 5 to 10 minutes, nevertheless it can extend if
biopsies and therapeutic procedures are necessary.
¿What preparation is required?
The patient can not consume food
the night prior to the exam (ideally six to twelve hours of
fasting prior to the examination).
If you take antihypertensive or “heart” medicines, you must
take the respective doses in the morning 2 hours before the
examination with sufficient amount of water.
If you take or apply Anticoagulants (warfarin, heparin or
others) you should probable suspend them, but you must
personally communicate with Dr. Blanco and/or his Anesthesia
Group, who will decide on what to do.
If you have cardiac valve prosthesis or another type of
internal device, you will be required to use prophylactic
antibiotic, so that you can directly request to speak
communicate with the Physicians.
An Informed Consent Form will given to you in which the
indications of the examination are specified, the
contraindications, possible complications, consent that you
will have to sign (if underage your parents or guardians
will sign) before initiating the procedure, once you have
clarified any doubts with respect to the Upper Digestive
Endoscopy.
¿What do you feel during the examination?
If the examination is done while
you are “awake” (without sedation) the local anesthesia
facilitates the swallowing of the endoscope but at the same
time it gives you a sensation of temporary choking and
discomfort shortly after the procedure. The endoscope
usually causes nausea and provokes vomiting. The air
introduced by the endoscope gives the sensation of internal
gas and usually produces a little uncontrollable burping by
the patient. The movement of the endoscope within the
stomach can be felt. Taking the biopsies can produce a
sensation of internal tugging; nevertheless it does not
produce pain or serious bleeding.
If the examination is done with Conscientious Sedation,
almost the only discomfort is the puncturing of the vein and
burning that some of medicines produce nevertheless it is a
passing discomfort and although it is very rare,
occasionally it is possible to present phlebitis. For
others, with the Sedation the sensation of nausea,
breathlessness and vomit disappears not to mention there are
no memories of the examination.
¿Why do an Upper Endoscopy?
This examination helps to
determine:
• The cause of abdominal pain
• The cause of bleeding in the digestive track
• Inflammation, narrowness, or tumors in the esophagus
• The cause of difficulties in swallowing
• The presence of ulcerations and inflammation
• The state of the stomach and duodenum after an operation
• The presence of tumors or other anomalies in the digestive
track
¿What can Upper Digestive
Endoscopy show me?
The digestive endoscopy allows the
detection of
• Esophageal rings
• Diverticula
• Esophagusitis
• Narrowness
• Inflammation of the stomach and duodenum (Gastritis)
• Gastric masses and tumors
• Ulcers (acute or chronic)
• Mallory-Weiss Syndrome (Tear)
• Tumors
¿ What risks are
associated with Upper Digestive Endoscopy?
There is a small possibility of perforation of the stomach,
the duodenum or the esophagus, or bleeding at the biopsy site.
An adverse reaction to the sedative can be presented, which
could cause:
• Apnea (lack of breathing)
• Bradycardia
• Respiratory depression (difficulty breathing)
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Laryngospasm (spasm of the larynx) the general risk is less
than 1 case in every 1,000 people.
Special
considerations
You have to go to the doctor if some of these conditions
appear after the examination:
• Difficulty swallowing
• Pain
• Fever
• Black Outs
• Blood in vomit
|
