Riverview Endoscopy

GASTROSCOPY, VARICEAL THERAPY, OESOPHAGEAL DILATATION or PEG.
For any enquiries or to change your HOLLYWOOD booking phone
1800 174 837. After normal working hours, for enquiries about
preparation please call the Gastroneterology Department, or the after
hours nurse manager, at Hollywood Hospital.
GASTROSCOPY
Gastroscopy involves
the use of a flexible tube to examine
the upper intestinal tract including the oesophagus,
stomach and duodenum. The procedure is commonly undertaken if your
doctor suspects
that you have an ulcer, inflammation or other abnormality of the oesophagus (the pipe which connects the throat
to the
stomach), the stomach or duodenum.
How are you prepared?
You need to fast for
six hours before the procedure. While
fasting, take all your regular medications with a sip of water. It is desirable that you are not taking
any
iron tablets, aspirin, clopidogrel or other blood thinners if possible.
Special Considerations:
If you have serious
heart or chest problems special precautions
need to be taken to reduce any possible risk. You should therefore
inform your
doctor of any serious illness of this nature. The precautions taken
will
usually include providing oxygen during the procedure and/or monitoring
the
heart and oxygen levels during the procedure.
What do we do?
An endoscope is a
flexible tube about 9mm in diameter. It
allows full colour inspection of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. It also allows
biopsies
to be taken from the small bowel and other areas.
At the beginning of
the
procedure your throat will be
sprayed with a local anaesthetic and you
will be
given a sedative by injection in a vein to make you more comfortable.
The
procedure will take between 5 and 15 minutes and you will be sleepy for
about
half an hour afterwards.
Safety and risks
Gastroscopy is
usually
simple and safe. It is unlikely to
cause problems for patients unless they have serious heart or chest
problems.
Extremely rarely,
individual patients may have a reaction
to the sedation or damage to the oesophagus
at the
time of examination. The gastroscope is a
complex
reusable instrument, which cannot go through a heat sterilisation
process. However, after each use it is thoroughly cleaned and then
disinfected,
using a high level disinfectant. The hospital cleans and disinfects the
gastroscope according to the standards set
by the
Gastroenterological Society of Australia. The possibility of infection
being
introduced during the procedure cannot be completely ruled out, but
seems
extremely rare. Death is a remote possibility with any interventional
procedure. However, if you wish to have full details of all possible
rare
complications discussed before the procedure, you should inform your
doctor.
Afterwards
The sedative
painkiller
you are given before the procedure
is very effective in reducing any discomfort. However, it may also
affect your
memory for some time afterwards. Even when the sedative appears to have
worn
off, you may find you are unable to recall details of your discussion
with your
doctor. For this reason a relative or friend should come with you if
possible. You must not drive or operate machinery or
make major decisions for 12 hours after the test.
If after the test
you
have any symptoms that cause you concern,
you should contact the Hospital or your
own Doctor.
1.
You
must fast for 6 hours before the test. When fasting have nothing
to
eat or drink. However, you may take medications with a sip of
water.
Morning Appointments
Have nothing to eat or drink
after
Afternoon Appointments
Have nothing to eat or drink
after
2.
Report
to the Hospital’s Day Procedure Unit at the time advised. Please bring
this
sheet, your referral form, relevant X-Rays and your pre-admission form
if you
have not already delivered these, and your Medical Insurance and
Medicare
details.
3.
It is
unsafe to drive
yourself
home.
You must
not drive or operate machinery or make major decisions for 12 hours
after the
test. The sedative painkiller you are given before the procedure is
very
effective in reducing any discomfort. However, it may also affect your
memory
for some time afterwards. Even when the sedative appears to have worn
off, you
may find you are unable to recall details of your discussion with your
doctor.
For this reason a relative or friend should come with you if possible.
4.
If
you have any problems after the procedure or symptoms that cause you
concern,
you should contact the Hospital.
5.
In most instances health funds
accept Riverview Endoscopy accounts for direct no-gap billing. If not,
you will
be given an invoice for the doctor's services. Payment will be your
responsibility, but the majority of the cost will be reimbursed by
Medicare and
your private health fund. If paying on the day a receipt will be issued
for you
to claim from your health fund and Medicare. A separate account is
issued by
Riverview Endoscopy
Home PageCreated 28 July 1997
Updated 26 April 2012