Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback. If you need advice or

are concerned about any aspect of care or treatment please
speak to a member of staff or contact the Patient Advice and
Liaison Service (PALS):
Freephone: 0800 183 0204
From a mobile or abroad: 0115 924 9924 ext 65412 or 62301
E-mail: pals@nuh.nhs.uk
Gastroscopy
Letter: NUH NHS Trust, c/o PALS, Freepost NEA 14614,
Nottingham NG7 1BR Information for patients

www.nuh.nhs.uk Endoscopy

If you require a full list of references for this leaflet please email
patientinformation@nuh.nhs.uk or phone 0115 924 9924
ext. 67184.

The Trust endeavours to ensure that the information given here

is accurate and impartial.
This document can be provided in different
languages and formats

Lorraine Clark, Gastroenterology & Endoscopist Nurse Lead and Dr Krish Ragunath,
Consultant Gastroenterologist © September 2015. All rights reserved. Nottingham
University Hospitals NHS Trust. Review September 2017. Ref: 1340/v4/0915/AS

NUH02097N
Public information
Aim of the leaflet Notes/questions
This leaflet aims to explain what a Gastroscopy test is and is it Please write down a list of any medications you are taking and
for you? It will also answer any frequently asked questions. any questions you have:

What is a Gastroscopy?
This is a test that will allow the endoscopist to look at the
lining of your gut, including your oesophagus (gullet),
stomach and the first part of your small bowel (duodenum).

This is done by passing a long flexible tube (thinner than your

little finger), through your mouth, into your stomach and the
first part of your small bowel.

The flexible tube (gastroscope) has a mini video camera built

into its tip. Pictures are then seen on a TV monitor. A video
recording or photographs can be taken for record or
documentary purposes.

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Notes/questions Why do I need a Gastroscopy?
Please write down a list of any medications you are taking and Your doctor is concerned about the symptoms you have been
any questions you have: having in the upper part of your digestive system. A
Gastroscopy is a good way of finding out whether there is a
problem or not. It also helps your doctor decide on further
treatment, if necessary.

A Gastroscopy is used to investigate a variety of symptoms,

for example:
 Difficulty in swallowing
 Heartburn/Indigestion
 Abdominal pain/stomach pain
 Vomiting
 Weight loss
 Anaemia
 Change in bowel habit
 Passing black motions

Are there any alternatives to a Gastroscopy?

A Gastroscopy is the best way of looking at the lining of your
oesophagus, stomach, and first part of your small bowel.
However, a Barium meal examination is a possible alternative
test.

A Barium meal is not as effective as a Gastroscopy and cannot

allow treatment to be performed at the same time. Therefore,
you may still need to have a Gastroscopy. If you wish to discuss
this further, please contact your GP or doctor.

What will happen if I choose not to have a

Gastroscopy?
The decision is yours as to whether to have a Gastroscopy or
not. However, without this test your doctor may be unable to
rule out many of the common causes of upper digestive
problems. It is difficult to plan any further treatment without
this test.

14 3
How do I prepare for the test? After the procedure
 It is advised that you wear loose fitting clothing, as this is If you experience any of the following problems please contact
more comfortable during and after the test. your GP immediately, informing them that you have had a
 To allow a clear view during the test, your stomach must be Gastroscopy:
empty. Do not have anything to eat for at least six hours  Persistent or severe pain
before the procedure.  Vomiting
 You may drink water up to two hours before the procedure.  High temperature or feeling feverish
We need your stomach to be empty for the test.  Passing or vomiting of blood
 Please remove any coloured nail varnish, this may affect
how well our monitoring equipment detects your heart rate Alternatively, contact the Endoscopy Unit at the hospital campus
and breathing during your endoscopy test. where you had your test:

What about my medication? City Hospital Campus

Please list your usual medication on the notes/questions section 8am - 6pm, Monday to Friday
at the back of this booklet. Tel: 0115 962 8007

Specific instructions have been put into your information pack.
 If you are Diabetic – see green leaflet
 If you take Warfarin or Clopidogrel - see pink leaflet
Antibiotics can have an effect on particular test results from
your Gastroscopy. If you have been prescribed these during
the month prior to your appointment please contact the
Endoscopy Centre.
QMC Campus
8am - 6pm, Monday to Friday
Tel: 0115 924 9924 ext 63371
Out of these hours, regardless of whether your Endoscopy test
was performed at the City campus or QMC campus, please
telephone the QMC campus switchboard on 0115 924 9924 and
ask to speak to the on-call Gastroenterology Registrar (this is
the senior doctor from our Gastroenterology team).

Acid reducing medication – see opposite page.

Take any other medication as normal.

NOTE: If you take steroids or immuno-suppressant medication,

please bring your alert cards with you.

If your doctor has told you that you may have had a stroke or
heart attack within the last three months, please contact the
Endoscopy Unit as soon as possible.

4 13
Summary of important information
Gastroscopy is a safe procedure and the best way to investigate
your symptoms. Risks and complications are very rare and the
benefits far outweigh the risks. However, it is your decision
whether you wish to go ahead with the procedure or not and you
are free to change your mind at any time.
It is everyone’s aim for you to be seen as soon as possible.
However, the department is very busy and your investigation
may be delayed. If emergencies occur, these patients will
obviously be given priority over the less urgent cases.
 Please do not bring valuables to the hospital. The hospital
cannot accept any responsibility for the loss or damage to
personal property during your time on these premises
 If you are having sedation, arrange for someone to collect
you and stay with you for 12 hours following your test
 If you are unable to keep your appointment, please notify the
Endoscopy Centre as soon as possible
12
Acid reducing medication
Instructions about your acid reducing medication before
your endoscopy test.
Acid reducing medication can have an effect on the accuracy of
a particular test from your Gastroscopy.
Therefore some people are asked to stop taking this medication
dependent on why you have been referred for this test.
Examples of this medication include:
 Omeprazole (Losec)
 Pariet (Rabeprazole)
 Lansoprazole (Zoton)
 Pantoprazole (Protium)
 Esomeprazole (Nexium)
 Ranitidine (Zantac)
The doctor responsible for your care has instructed that you:
 Stop taking this medication 14 days before your
Gastroscopy. However if there is not 14 days between the
time you have received this information and your
appointment please stop taking this immediately.
 Continue taking this medication before your Gastroscopy.
If you have any queries about your medication please do not
hesitate to contact the Endoscopy Unit using the telephone
numbers on your Endoscopy folder.
5
What happens when I arrive?
On arrival, please report to the main reception desk where the
receptionist will check your personal details.
You will then be greeted by the nurse responsible for your care
and escorted to the assessment area. Here you will be asked a
number of questions, including your medical history and your
arrangements for transport home. The nurse will also take your
pulse and blood pressure.
If there is a possibility that you are going to have sedation the
nurse will discuss this with you, you will not be allowed to use
public transport or drive. You must arrange for a responsible
adult to collect you, even if going home by taxi.
It is strongly recommended that the responsible adult
should stay with you for the rest of the day and overnight
following sedation for your own safety.
You will then be asked to wait in the sub-waiting area before
being called through for your gastroscopy. Please note there
often are several endoscopy procedure rooms running at the
same time with different procedures and endoscopists. If
another patient is called through from the sub-waiting area for
their procedure before yourself they are not jumping the queue.
CHECKLIST
□Loose fitting clothing to wear
□Nothing to eat from six hours before your test
□Nothing to drink from two hours
□Before your test
□Check for specific medication instructions
□Transport arrangements made. Plus contact name and
number written in this booklet
□Responsible adult arranged to stay with you for 12 hours if you
are thinking about having sedation
□Bring this information pack with you to your endoscopy
Appointment
□Please remove any coloured nail varnish
If the person collecting you has gone home, the nursing staff will
telephone them when you are ready to go home.

PLEASE WRITE YOUR RELATIVE’S/FRIEND’S NAME AND

TELEPHONE NUMBER
BELOW:

NAME:

TELEPHONE NUMBER:

6 11
What about my results?
Before you leave the Endoscopy Centre, the nurse or a doctor
will explain what has been seen during the test and any
medication, further investigations or clinic visits that are needed.
If you have had sedation this can have a temporary effect on
your memory, it is a good idea to have a member of your family
or a friend with you when you are given this information.
If a biopsy has been taken, the results will take several days.
These may be given to you in several ways:
 You may be given an outpatients appointment for a review of
these results
 The results will be sent to your GP
 Your doctor or practitioner should write to you directly
How you receive your results will be discussed with you after
your test.
10
Sedation and throat spray
Sedation
This will make you sleepy, but not unconscious. It is not a
general anaesthetic. You will be in a state called co-operative
sedation. This means that, although drowsy, you will still hear
what is said to you and will be able to carry out simple
instructions during the test. You will be relaxed and should be
able to breathe quite normally throughout your test.
Sedation has an amnesic effect (making you forgetful for a short
time), therefore you may not remember anything about this test.
It is not safe for everyone to have sedation, particularly for
people with heart or breathing problems. The endoscopist will
discuss this further with you if necessary.
It is very important the you understand if you decide to have
sedation you should not drive, operate machinery, sign legal
documents or drink alcohol 24 hours following your test. You
must not drink alcohol for at least eight hours prior to your test.
Throat spray
Local anaesthetic spray numbs your throat. As the flexible
gastroscopes have become smaller, some patients are content
for the procedures to be carried out without sedation and just
have throat spray. This is quite common nowadays.
The benefit of having your throat sprayed is that you can go
home almost immediately after the test. You are allowed to drive
and carry on life as normal. The only restriction is that you must
not have anything to drink or eat for two hours after the test. It is
strongly advised that when having your first drink after the
procedure, you sip it first to make sure that you do not choke.
7
What does a Gastroscopy involve?
 You will be introduced to the nurses and endoscopist who
will be with you throughout your Gastroscopy.
 The endoscopist will then check that you have a full
understanding of your test and all that is involved, and that
you are willing to go ahead.
 You will be given the opportunity to discuss whether to have
sedation and how it may affect you.
 You will be asked to remove any dentures and/or spectacles
and these will be stored for safe keeping under the trolley
that you are lying on.
 At this point, most people have the back of their throat
sprayed with a local anaesthetic spray, whilst they are sitting
up. This may taste unpleasant, but is intended to make your
throat numb and less sensitive during the test.
 You will then be asked to lie on your left-hand side. If you are
going to receive sedation, a needle will be put into the back
of your hand, through which the sedative will be given.
 In order to monitor your heart rate and breathing, the nurse
looking after you will place a monitor onto one of your
fingers.
 A nurse will be with you at all times, giving guidance and
support. Any saliva you produce will be removed with a small
suction tube, similar to that used at the dentist.
 You will be able to breathe normally throughout your test.
 The flexible tube will then be passed over the back of your
tongue, down your gullet, into your stomach and the first part
of your small bowel.
 Air is put into your stomach so that a clear view of the lining
of your upper digestive system can be seen. This may cause
you to feel bloated during or after the test. This is normal and
should resolve on its own.
 The test usually takes about 5 minutes to complete. If small
samples of tissue (biopsies) need to be taken, the test may
take a little longer. A biopsy is a small piece of tissue, which
is removed through the flexible tube using tiny forceps. This
is painless and you will probably not be aware of it being
done.
8 9
Are there any complications?
As with every medical procedure, the risk must be compared to
the benefit of having the procedure carried out. The doctor who
has requested the test will have considered this very carefully.
Gastroscopy is what is known as an invasive procedure and,
therefore, carries risks/complications. These are very rare.
The major risks/complications include:
 Allergic reaction to the equipment or medicines used for the
procedure
 Disturbance of your heart rate and breathing from the
sedation medications
 Significant bleeding (less than 1 person in every 1000
procedures performed)
 Making a hole (perforation) to the lining of the gullet or
stomach (less than 1 person in every 10,000 procedures
performed)
What happens after the procedure?
If you have not received sedation, the nurse responsible for your
care will escort you to the recovery area.
If you have received sedation, you will remain on the trolley and
you will be taken to the recovery area. Here you will be allowed
to rest until the effects of the sedation have worn off.
You may feel a little bloated or have some discomfort in your
stomach. Your throat will still feel a little numb, but this will wear
off within two hours. Your throat may also feel a little sore, which
could last for the rest of the day.
Once awake you will be given a drink and a light snack. You will
then have the opportunity to discuss the test with the nurse in
charge of your care, before going home with a responsible adult.