What is it?
An Oesophogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) is an investigation performed using an endoscope. An endoscope is a long flexible tube about the thickness of your finger, with a bright light at the end. It allows your doctor to look inside your upper digestive tract. The view may be seen on a television screen. Your doctor can guide the endoscope safely to the areas to be examined.
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Do I need it?
The upper digestive tract can be affected by many disorders such as ulcers, gastritis and cancer. This test will assist your doctor in finding out if your upper digestive tract is healthy or diseased.
A chronic condition can also be assessed and it is possible to obtain even more information by taking small samples of tissue/biopsy, painlessly though the endoscope, for laboratory analysis. Treatment may also be performed through the endoscopy at the same examination.
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How do I prepare?
You will be given a list of instructions relating to this preparation. This procedure is performed on an empty stomach, after at least six hours without food and drink. Please follow all instructions and contact us if you have any concerns or questions.
On the morning of your appointment, you should take as per normal with a small amount of water, any medicine for high blood pressure, heart condition or asthma you have been prescribed. If you are diabetic, your doctor will give you special instructions about how to take your medication.
Please try to leave all jewellery and valuables at home.
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What to expect
The procedure will take about 10-20 minutes. You will be given a sedative to help you relax. The OGD is done with you lying on your left side. An anesthetic spray will be applied to the back of your throat to numb the area so you are less likely to gag when the endoscope is introduced. Do not worry, you will be able to breathe easily throughout the procedure.
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Next actions
As you have been administered sedatives, you might feel slightly drowsy for a short time after the procedure. Therefore, an adult must accompany you home. For the next 24 hours, a small amount of sedative may still be present in your body. Hence, you are advised not to carry out the following:
a. Drive a vehicle
b. Drink alcohol
c. Operate machinery
d. Take sedatives unless prescribed by the doctor
e. Sign any legal documents
You will be given an appointment for follow-up at the clinic if necessary. You can discuss with your doctor at this next visit the OGD and any other test that may have been performed. Any further management plans will also be discussed with you. If you have been given a prescription, you should then go to the pharmacy to collect your medicine.
If you experience significant abdominal pain not relieved by medication or vomiting of blood, please seek treatment at the Emergency Department TTSH.
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