At Chaucer Hospital, we also offer gastroscopy services. A gastroscopy is a test to check inside your throat and stomach.
The routine procedure that typically takes about 15 minutes, although the duration can vary based on individual circumstances.
At the start of the procedure, a
local anaesthetic spray is applied to numb your mouth and throat. You’ll be asked to lie on your left side and will be given a mouth guard to protect your teeth.
For your comfort, you have the option of receiving a sedative, which will help you relax during the procedure. This is administered intravenously through a cannula, a tube placed in a vein in your hand or arm. It’s important to note that this is conscious sedation, not a general anaesthetic.
Your consultant will gently insert an endoscope, a thin, flexible tube equipped with a light and camera, through the mouth guard. This endoscope is guided down your throat, into your oesophagus, and then into your stomach. The camera is connected to a monitor, allowing the consultant to view your oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
During a diagnostic gastroscopy, air is blown into your stomach to allow the consultant to identify any unusual inflammation, lumps, ulcers, Barrett’s oesophagus, or blockages. If necessary, the consultant may take a small tissue sample for biopsy. This is a painless process, and you likely won’t even notice it happening.