How do I prepare for an endoscopy?
An endoscopy is usually not painful, but your doctor will usually give you a light sedative or anaesthetic. Because of this, you should arrange for someone to help you get home afterwards if you can.
You will need to avoid eating and drinking for several hours before an endoscopy. Your doctor will tell you how long you will need to fast before your procedure.
If you are having a colonoscopy, you will need to do a bowel preparation. Your doctor will give you detailed information about what you need to do.
What happens during an endoscopy?
Before it starts, you might be given either local or general anaesthetic or a sedative to help you relax. You might or might not know what’s going on at the time, and you probably won’t remember much.
The doctor will carefully insert the endoscope and take good look at the part being examined. You might have a sample (biopsy) taken. You might have some diseased tissue removed. If the procedure involves any incisions (cuts), these will usually be closed with sutures (stitches).
What are the risks of an endoscopy?
Every medical procedure has some risks. Endoscopies are generally pretty safe, but there is always a risk of:
adverse reaction to sedation
bleeding
infections
piercing a hole in or tearing the area examined, such as puncturing an organ
What happens after my endoscopy procedure?
Your health team will monitor you in the recovery area until the effects of the anaesthetic or sedative have worn off. If you have pain, you may be given medicine for pain relief. If you have had sedation, you should arrange for someone to take you home after the procedure.
Your doctor may discuss your test results and make a follow-up appointment. You should visit your doctor immediately if you experience any serious side effects. These include fever, severe pain or bleeding, or if you are concerned.