Private Gastroscopy Procedure at HCA UK

This procedure is used as an investigation to help find out if there's a problem with the upper part of your digestive system. Can also be known as a gastrointestinal endoscopy or upper GI endoscopy.

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Endoscopy at The Princess Grace Hospital

What is a gastroscopy?

If your consultant wants to examine your upper digestive system they might suggest a gastroscopy.

This procedure lets your consultant look inside this part of your body using a tiny, flexible camera called an endoscope.

Need to know

What happens during a gastroscopy?

Your consultant might offer you a sedative to help you relax. When you're sitting back comfortably your consultant will place a flexible telescope (an endoscope) into the back of your throat and down into your stomach. From there, the endoscope passes down into your small intestine (duodenum).

You might feel some discomfort but you shouldn't feel any pain. Using the images taken by the endoscope that appear on screen your consultant will look for problems such as inflammation or ulcers. If they need to take a biopsy, they may do it at the same time. They'll also use the endoscope to take photographs that can help them make any diagnosis.

How to prepare

Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved. Your consultant will explain these to you. If you're having a sedative, you should arrange for someone to drive you home as you won't be able to drive yourself.

After a gastroscopy

This procedure can be done as a day case, so you won't need to stay overnight in hospital. You should be able to go back to work the next day after your procedure, unless your consultant tells you otherwise.