Gastroscopy
We provide a first-class gastroscopy service to diagnose conditions affecting the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum.
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What is it for?
For the diagnosis of conditions affecting the oesophagus and small intestine
Overview
A gastroscopy involves a long, thin, flexible tube called an endoscope being passed down your throat to look inside your oesophagus (food pipe), stomach and the first part of your small intestine (duodenum).
It鈥檚 also sometimes called an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
At the end of the tube are a camera and light that allow your consultant to look for anything that doesn鈥檛 look normal in these parts of your body.
This helps them to diagnose any conditions you may have or identify something that鈥檚 causing you discomfort.
Your consultant can also attach tiny surgical instruments to the end of the endoscope to remove polyps (small clumps of cells), stop bleeding and treat certain conditions.
Why choose AOA体育平台
Excellence in one place
AOA体育平台, in collaboration with Northwestern Medicine, operate as teams of experts with world-class resources, dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of care. Supported by the latest treatments, expert guidance, and a comfortable recovery environment in our patient rooms, you'll have everything you need to regain your best health.
Personal care, every time
Exceptional patient care is a way of life for us. We鈥檒l be with you every step of the way, tailoring your care to your specific needs, including healthy and delicious meals designed to support your recovery. We keep our staff-to-patient ratio low, so our nurses, clinicians, therapists, and support teams can offer a personalised, quality experience.
Effortlessly simple
We work together as one to guide you through every step of your patient experience. From explaining your personal treatment plan to ensuring all details are taken care of, we make the process stress-free, so you can focus on your health. Whether it鈥檚 your first consultation or follow-up care, our teams are here to provide seamless support and the peace of mind you deserve.
What's included in your package?
Choosing AOA体育平台 means your treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.
Your treatment package will include:
- Enhanced pre-admission assessment
- Your treatment with our complete care team at your fingertips
- Personalised aftercare and follow-up
We want you to be in control of your health. That鈥檚 why we also offer optional services such as comprehensive recovery packages and extra touches for you to choose from during your stay with us. To help you manage the cost, we also offer a 0% finance option, allowing you to spread the payments for your treatment over 12 months with no added interest. Learn more about our .
How to pay
- You can use private medical insurance (PMI) to access this treatment. We work with all major PMI providers in the UK and many internationally
- You can pay for yourself (self-pay)
- If you鈥檙e paying for yourself, we have 0% finance options available with Chrysalis. Find out more .
FAQs
Your consultant may recommend a gastroscopy to you if you鈥檙e experiencing symptoms including:
- Indigestion and heartburn
- Acid reflux
- Persistent sore throat
- Chronic cough, especially at night
- Chest pain which is unrelated to heart problems
- Vomiting, especially if there is blood
- Swallowing difficulties
- Bleeding, in particular black or tarry blood in your poo
Your consultant will perform your gastroscopy as an outpatient procedure. This usually means you won鈥檛 need any medication to make you feel calmer or reduce discomfort.
However, if you are worried about the procedure, we鈥檒l offer you medication, such as a sedative, to help you feel more relaxed.
Your consultant may also spray local anaesthetic in the back of your mouth to numb your throat.
They鈥檒l then insert a long, thin, flexible tube (endoscope) into your mouth. They may ask you to swallow to help the endoscope pass down your throat. You shouldn鈥檛 feel any pain at this point.
The tube is passed down your oesophagus (food pipe), into your stomach and through to the duodenum, which is the upper part of your small intestine.
There is a small camera on the end of the endoscope that sends high-quality images to a computer screen.
AOA体育平台鈥檚 experienced endoscopists can use these images to inspect the whole of the upper part of the digestive system for ulcers, bleeding, growths and inflammation.
During the gastroscopy, your consultant may use a range of surgical instruments to:
- Take a sample of body tissue (biopsy)
- Remove polyps (small clump of cells)
- Stop bleeding by cauterising (burning) tissue
- Open up the oesophagus if it鈥檚 become narrow
- Treat certain upper gastrointestinal conditions
A gastroscopy usually lasts less than 30 minutes, but this will depend on the amount of treatment you require.
Before your gastroscopy, you'll need to empty your stomach. This is to reduce the chances of you vomiting and to make sure your endoscopist has clear views of your stomach.
This means you should not eat for four to six hours before your procedure, so you won鈥檛 need to take any medication, such as a laxative, to empty your bowels.
If you normally take medication or supplements, your care team will also discuss with you if you need to stop taking these and the best times to do so.
If you haven鈥檛 had a sedative, you should feel fine after your gastroscopy and return to your normal activities after you leave AOA体育平台.
However, if you have had a sedative, you鈥檒l recover in our calming and comfortable Endoscopy Unit until you no longer feel sleepy or drowsy.
You鈥檒l also need someone to travel home with you, and we recommend someone stays overnight with you as well.
We also advise that you don鈥檛 drink alcohol, drive, work or operate machinery for 24 hours, as you won鈥檛 be as mentally alert as usual.
Our world-leading gastroenterologists and endoscopists will work closely together to reduce any risk during a gastroscopy and support your safe recovery.
Rarely, problems caused by a gastroscopy include:
Bleeding
This is more likely to happen if body tissue or a polyp is removed during the procedure. The bleeding usually stops naturally, but on rare occasions you may need an operation to stop the bleeding.
Damage or tears to your throat, oesophagus, stomach or duodenum
If this happens, you may need an operation to repair the damage.
Your consultant will be able to discuss what they have seen during your gastroscopy as soon as you feel able to chat.
They may also arrange an appointment to discuss the results of tests carried out on any body tissue removed during your procedure.
These results are usually available in three to four working days.
At this appointment, your consultant will also explain your diagnosis, discuss your treatment options and chat through any worries you may have.