Upper GI Endoscopy
An upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, also known as an EGD is a quick, highly accurate, and minimally invasive procedure used by our gastroenterologists to look directly inside your digestive tract and discover exactly what is causing your symptoms.
Why Is an Upper Endoscopy Recommended?
An upper endoscopy is the gold standard for evaluating the health of your upper digestive system (your esophagus, stomach, and the duodenum, which is the first part of your small intestine). Our medical team routinely utilizes this procedure to investigate and find root causes for:
Persistent abdominal pain or cramping
Chronic nausea, vomiting, or unexplained weight loss
Difficulty or pain when swallowing (dysphagia)
Stubborn, severe heartburn or acid reflux (GERD)
Diagnosing or monitoring suspected ulcers, celiac disease, or tissue inflammation (gastritis)
Screening for precancerous changes, tumors, or hidden sources of internal bleeding
How to Prepare for Your Procedure
Your safety and comfort are woven into every step of our clinical prep. To ensure your stomach is entirely clear for a safe, highly detailed view, please adhere to the following guidelines:
Fasting Rules
No Solid Food: You must fast from all solid foods for at least 8 hours prior to your appointment.
No Liquids: Stop drinking all fluids, including water and clear liquids, at least 2 hours before your scheduled procedure time.
Medical Review
Please inform your physician ahead of time about your complete medical history, including any heart or lung conditions, diabetes, current pregnancy, or allergies to medications.
Antibiotics: If you have a specific medical condition that requires you to take preventative antibiotics before surgical procedures, please let us know. Note: It is very rare to need antibiotics for a standard endoscopy.
Logistics: Because you will receive relaxing sedation, your reflexes and judgment will be temporarily impaired. You must arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home. You will be fully cleared to drive, operate machinery, and return to work the morning after your procedure.
How the Procedure Is Performed
An upper endoscopy is a streamlined, outpatient procedure that takes only 10 to 30 minutes to complete. It is performed right here in our state-of-the-art outpatient endoscopy center or day-surgery GI unit.
Sedation & Comfort: A specialized nurse will start an intravenous (IV) line to administer a sedative medication. This ensures you remain completely relaxed, pain-free, and comfortably asleep throughout the process.
High-Definition Imaging: Once you are asleep, your gastroenterologist gently passes the endoscope—a slim, flexible tube equipped with a miniature video camera and light—into your mouth, down the esophagus, and through the stomach into the duodenum. The camera transmits real-time, high-definition video to a monitor, allowing your doctor to carefully examine the tissue lining and take detailed photographs.
On-the-Spot Care: If your doctor spots an area of concern, they can seamlessly perform advanced, painless interventions through the scope during the same session. This includes taking tiny tissue samples (biopsies), expanding narrowed pathways (dilation), sealing off sources of bleeding, or safely placing feeding tubes.
What to Expect During Recovery
Resuming Your Diet: You will rest briefly in our recovery pavilion while the sedation naturally wears off. As soon as you leave our facility, you can immediately resume eating your normal diet unless given specific, alternative instructions by your care team.
Getting Your Results: Before you are discharged, your physician will meet with you to share the immediate structural findings of the test. If tissue biopsies were collected, they will be sent directly to our pathology lab; these comprehensive results are typically ready and reported to you within one week.
Understanding Risks & Alternatives
Are There Risks Involved?
An upper endoscopy is an exceptionally safe, routine procedure, and complications are rare and typically minor.
Common, Minor Side Effects: Some patients may experience a temporary mild sore throat, localized gas discomfort, or slight nausea from the sedation, all of which resolve quickly.
Rare Complications: Highly unusual but potential risks include localized bleeding at a biopsy or polyp removal site, a small tear (perforation) in the protective lining of the GI tract, or a brief reaction to the sedative affecting your breathing or heart rhythm. Our clinical team takes every advanced defensive precaution to minimize these outcomes.
What Are My Alternatives to an Endoscopy?
The most common alternative to an endoscopy is a barium swallow X-ray series. For this imaging test, you drink a thick, chalky liquid called barium, which coats your upper GI tract while a radiologist captures standard X-ray films.
While a barium swallow can highlight major structural abnormalities or blockages, it is generally recognized as less accurate and less comprehensive than an endoscopy. Furthermore, an X-ray cannot evaluate microscopic inflammation, nor does it allow your doctor to treat bleeding or collect vital tissue biopsies.