”A
gastroscopy (upper GI
endoscopy,
esophagastroduodenoscopy, EGD) is a direct examination of the
esophagus (food pipe),
stomach and
duodenum (first part of the
small intestine) using an
endoscope (a thin, flexible tube about the diameter of the little finger).”
1
People who have EGDs may have conditions such as
GERD,
dsyphagia, abdominal pain or bleeding. The procedure may be used to
diagnose visually and to obtain
biopsies for further analysis.
It is a relatively simple and low risk
procedure with minimal preparation before hand and minimal
discomfort during and after. You have to have an empty stomach and you have to have an
IV for
medication.
General anesthesia is not used, a
conscious sedation medication such as
Versed is used along with a spray that numbs the throat. You can’t drive the day of the procedure and may be a bit sleepy and you can't swallow for about an hour but otherwise life rapidly returns normal afterwards. The whole thing usually takes about 20 – 30 minutes.
Increases in the use of EGDs have corresponded with earlier diagnosis of
gastric cancer, which has a very high mortality rate worldwide. Early diagnosis of cancers usually decreases
mortality.
GERD is also being diagnosed and treated more frequently in recent years. Since severe or longstanding GERD is associated with a specific type of esophageal that is preceded by
Barrett’s esophagus the use of EGD may actually prevent
cancer by proper diagnosis and treatment of the precipitating problem.
“The British spelling of esophagus is
oesophagus. Hence,
GERD is
GORD in many
European countries. “
2
1 www.imam-md.com/gastro.html
2 www.gerd.com/faq/gerd-faq.htm
3 http://www.accmed.net/osi/medspec/710066.htm