What is Gastroscopy (Upper GI Panendoscopy)?
Upper endoscopy is a medical procedure that allows your doctor to examine the lining of the upper portion of your gastrointestinal tract – the esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, and the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). This is done with a thin, flexible tube after the throat is topically anesthetized with a spray or gargle, and usually requires “conscious sedation” by intravenous injection of medications. Upper endoscopy is used to evaluate a patient’s symptoms such as persistent upper abdominal pain, diffculty swallowing, persistent vomiting or bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract. This procedure usually takes from 10 to 20 minutes, and is well tolerated by most patients.
