Most endoscopies are carried out at a local hospital, although some larger GP surgeries may offer the procedure.
Before having an endoscopy
Depending on what part of your body is being examined, you may be asked to avoid eating food and drinking liquids for several hours before you have an endoscopy.
You may also be given a laxative (medicine to open your bowels and relieve constipation) to help clear out any stools or waste products from your bowels. In some cases, you may also require a dose of antibiotics to reduce the risk of an infection occurring.
If you are taking a medicine to thin your blood, such as warfarin, you may be asked to stop taking it for a few days before having your endoscopy. This is to prevent excessive bleeding occurring during the procedure. However, do not stop taking any prescribed medication unless your GP or specialist advises you to do so.
The endoscopy procedure
An endoscopy is not painful, although it may feel a little uncomfortable.
Endoscopies do not usually require general anaesthetic (medication that makes you lose consciousness completely, so that you do not feel any pain). However, you may be given a local anaesthetic, which is used to numb a specific area of your body and does not cause you to lose consciousness. Before the procedure, you may be given a numbing throat spray or lozenge to numb your throat.
The endoscope will be carefully guided into your body. Exactly where it enters your body will depend on what part of your body is being examined. Possible options include your:
- throat
- anus (the opening through which stools are passed out of the body)
- urethra (the tube that connects the bladder to the vulva or penis, through which urine passes)
In some cases, the endoscope will be inserted into a small incision (cut) that your surgeon makes in your skin.
You are most likely to have an endoscopy to have the following areas examined:
- gullet (oesophagus)
- stomach
- large intestine (colon)
- first part of the small intestine (duodenum) that connects to the stomach
If your digestive system is being examined, after the local anaesthetic has taken effect, the healthcare professional who is carrying out the procedure will gently guide the endoscope down your gullet (oesophagus). You will be asked to swallow as they do this.
The endoscope will be passed through your oesophagus and into the area that is being examined, such as the stomach or small intestine (duodenum). The small camera at the end of the endoscope relays images of your stomach or duodenum to a television monitor, allowing the healthcare professional to examine any abnormal areas. If required, a small tissue sample (biopsy) will be taken using a small cutting instrument attached to the end of the endoscope.
Depending on the exact nature of the procedure and its objectives, an endoscopy can take 15-60 minutes to carry out. It will usually be performed on an outpatient basis, which means that you will not have to stay in hospital overnight.
After an endoscopy
After having an endoscopy, you will probably need to rest for about an hour until the effects of the local anaesthetic have worn off. It is not recommended that you drive immediately after having an endoscopy, so you will need to arrange for transport to take you home.
Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to drive. They will also tell you when you can do certain activities, such as operating heavy machinery, and when you can return to work.
If your bladder is being examined (cystoscopy), you may notice some blood in your urine following the endoscopy procedure. This should pass within 24 hours of having the procedure. Contact your GP for advice if you still have blood in your urine after this time.
