How Long Does an Upper Endoscopy Take?
Did you know that millions of individuals worldwide suffer from gastrointestinal disorders every year? Proper diagnosis of these disorders needs reliable and accurate assessment tools and methods like endoscopy.
Endoscopy lets doctors diagnose and treat stomach, duodenal, and esophageal problems. Understanding this procedure’s duration will help you prepare psychologically and practically, manage expectations, and effectively communicate with your healthcare providers.
This post will clarify and address what typical upper endoscopy is, the steps involved, how long it should take, and factors that affect the duration.
What is an Upper Endoscopy?
Endoscopic methods vary, but they all involve the same procedures. They entail inserting an endoscope, a narrow tube that has a bright light and a camera, through the body’s openings. The doctor then uses the camera to observe the internal organs.
Typically, when carrying out an upper endoscopy procedure, the tube goes through the throat. For a colonoscopy, the specialist will insert the scope via the anus.
Why is the Upper Endoscopy Done?
Upper endoscopies identify and treat upper digestive system problems. The upper digestive system comprises the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
Your doctor may recommend endoscopy to:
Investigate Symptoms: Endoscopies can diagnose digestive issues such as nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, heartburn, difficulty swallowing, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Diagnose: Endoscopies allow health facilities to diagnose anemia, bleeding, inflammation, and diarrhea. Additionally, it can detect upper intestinal tumors.
Treat: Endoscopes can treat intestinal issues with special equipment. Endoscopy can stop bleeding, expand the esophagus, remove colon polyps, or burn a bleeding vessel.
Endoscopies are sometimes paired with ultrasounds to take ultrasound images of the esophagus or stomach wall. Endoscopic ultrasounds can also image hard-to-reach organs like the pancreas. Even better, new endoscopes use HD video for sharper pictures.
When Do I Need To Do An Endoscopy?
The exam is often done regularly to determine the origin of symptoms such as persistent heartburn, difficulty swallowing, nausea, bleeding (or dark stools, a sign of internal bleeding), vomiting, abdominal pain, and weight loss.
Because cirrhosis can produce life-threatening oesophageal vein swelling, patients may also need regular upper endoscopies to examine the upper digestive tract, including the liver.
Steps Involved in An Upper Endoscopy
An upper endoscopy procedure involves three major sequential procedures. These Include:
Preparation
Actual procedure
Recovery
Understanding each of these steps can help patients feel more prepared. The steps include:
Step 1: Pre-procedure Preparation
Prior to the main course, the patients receive detailed instructions, which may include:
Fasting: To see the upper gastrointestinal tract clearly, patients are usually told to avoid eating prior to the procedure. Fasting for 6–8 hours before the appointment is advised.
Medication Adjustments: Blood thinners and NSAIDs, which can increase bleeding risk, may be temporarily stopped. Patients should follow their doctor's medication instructions.
Informed Consent: Patients must give informed consent beforehand, stating they understand its risks, benefits, and alternatives. Healthcare providers will address patient concerns at this point.
Step 2: Arrival at the Medical Facility
The second step entails:
Check-in: Patients must report to the healthcare facility at a specific time on the operation day.
Identification: Patients check in at the reception or registration desk and provide identification and insurance information. They will also be required to fill out consent or medical history forms.
Pre-Procedure Assessment: As part of the assessment, some examinations will be carried out, including blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation. These tests guarantee patients are healthy for the operation.
Step 3: Room Setup Procedure
When ready, you will be escorted to the procedure room, where the following happens:
Introduction to Medical Staff: Patients meet the gastroenterologist, nurses, and other staff who will execute the surgery. Patients are encouraged to ask questions before the operation.
Patient Positioning: Patients lie comfortably on an examination table on their left side. To protect the endoscope and the patient, a bite block can be inserted between the teeth.
Step 4: Administering Anaesthesia
Patients may receive sedation or anesthetic before the surgery to relax and reduce pain. Anaesthesia administration involves several steps:
Type of Anesthesia Used: The patient's medical history, preferences, and operation complexity determine the type of anesthesia used. IV sedation, which relaxes and drowses the patient, or general anesthesia, which knocks the patient out are common.
Monitoring During the Process: The healthcare team monitors patients' heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation during the process to ensure their safety.
Step 5: Inserting the Endoscope
The gastroenterologist inserts the endoscope into the mouth and guides it into the upper gastrointestinal system while the patient is anesthetized.
Endoscope insertion involves these steps:
Explaining the Endoscope: The gastroenterologist may briefly explain the endoscope, a flexible, narrow tube with a light source and camera at its tip. The esophagus, stomach, and duodenum inner lining can be seen in real-time using the endoscope.
Insertion Routing: The endoscope is cautiously introduced through the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus. The gastroenterologist carefully moves the endoscope into the stomach and duodenum to see the entire upper gastrointestinal system.
Step 6: Upper Gastrointestinal Exam
After placing the endoscope, the gastroenterologist examines the gastrointestinal system. This procedural phase includes the following steps:
Visualization of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract: The gastroenterologist thoroughly checks the inside lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum using the endoscopic camera. A monitor displays high-definition images to help the healthcare team spot inflammation, ulcers, tumors, and bleeding.
Therapeutic Interventions: Upper endoscopy may involve therapeutic interventions. This may include biopsies for analysis, polyp removal, or bleeding treatment with cauterization or drug injection.
Step 7: Endoscope Removal
Gastroenterologists carefully remove endoscopes from the gastrointestinal tract after the checkup. Endoscope removal involves these steps:
Possible Complications Checking: The gastroenterologist checks the gastrointestinal tract for bleeding or perforation after removing the endoscope. Problems are addressed immediately.
Care after the Endoscope is Removed: Patients are continuously watched as they recover from sedation or anesthesia. Patients get post-procedure care instructions, including dietary limitations and driving or heavy machinery prohibitions, once awake and alert.
Understanding the steps prepares you for upper endoscopies. It is important to communicate with the healthcare team before, during, and after the procedure. You should ask all questions you may have and address any concerns.
Upper Endoscopy Duration
Patients should know the length of an upper endoscopy to prepare emotionally and practically. Knowing the time helps reduce anxiety and make the process smoother. The normal upper endoscopy duration, factors that may affect it, and why durations vary are covered in this section.
Factors Affecting Upper Endoscopy Duration
Several factors affect upper endoscopy duration. These factors are patient- and procedure-related.
Patient Factors:
Previous Medical History: Patients with oesophageal strictures or structural abnormalities may need more time for treatment.
Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Anatomy: Changes in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum can alter endoscope maneuverability and operation length.
Procedure-related Factors:
The Procedure Scope: The scope of the inspection and the existence of anomalies can affect the procedure's time. Biopsies and therapy may extend the surgery.
Abnormalities: Finding ulcers or tumors during the inspection may require further study or intervention, prolonging the surgery.
Interventional Procedures: Polyp removal and hemostasis may require more time.
Normal Time Range
Upper endoscopies take 15–30 minutes on average. However, the foregoing elements can affect the duration. Some operations take only a few minutes, while others take 30 minutes or more.
What are the Expectations After Upper Endoscopy?
Upper endoscopy requires little recuperation and pain. Sedation-induced grogginess, bloating, sore throat, nausea, difficulty swallowing, and IV site pain may occur after the surgery. However, they normally resolve in 48 hours.
Sedation might take hours to wear off, so patients should arrange for a ride home. To eliminate the sedative effects faster at home, you should consume lots of water.
Soft foods and broth help reduce pain and make swallowing easier. Sucking on popsicles or hard candies can ease a sore throat while walking reduces bloating.
Why You Should Communicate with the Medical Team
Communication between patients and doctors is essential for controlling upper endoscopy duration expectations. Patients should feel comfortable asking questions and voicing concerns regarding the surgery. Healthcare practitioners should also clarify questions and concerns.
Open communication helps patients understand upper endoscopy expectations, especially time. This reduces patient anxiety and improves the exam experience.
Final Words
Knowing upper endoscopy basics gives you confidence when you visit a gastroenterologist in Hawaii. Clear communication and process expertise are essential from planning to post-procedure care. Patients may confidently and collaboratively handle their healthcare journey by staying educated and communicating with their medical team.
