<< Back to Patient Information List

The aim of Gastroscopy is to inspect under direct vision the lining of the oesophagus, stomach and upper part of the small bowel (duodenum) using a flexible telescope (“a Fibreoptic Gastroscope”) inserted through the mouth. The procedure requires that the stomach be empty. Alone, this procedure takes about 10 minutes. It is usually performed under light sedation with local anaesthesia spray to the throat.

The aim of Colonoscopy is to visually inspect the inside lining of the large bowel (colon) and, if possible, the last few centimetres of the small bowel (caecum) using a flexible telescope called a “Fibreoptic Colonoscope”. Uncommonly, complete Colonoscopy may not be possible. The procedure requires that the colon be clean. This involves being on “clear fluids only” for the day before your procedure and drinking a preparation fluid which will lead to copious watery motions to empty the bowel. Some patients find the preparation fluid unpleasant to taste. The procedure takes between 30 minutes to 1 hour in most cases. It is performed under sedation anaesthesia or light general anaesthesia.

YOUR ANAESTHETIC

The Anaesthetist will talk to you before your anaesthetic. He/she will be with you in the same room throughout the anaesthetic. This will be before you go to sleep until you are safely awake and stable in the Recovery Area. The Anaesthetist will be constantly monitoring your heart and lung functions throughout the procedure which may be affected by the anaesthesia or the procedure. He/she will have no other duties or responsibilities during this entire time.

You will be taken into the procedure room on a bed, but still wide awake. There, we will introduce you to any other staff and get you into a comfortable position. The Anaesthetist will put a small cannula into one of the veins in your arm. Soon after this you will start to feel drowsy or light headed. Once the procedure has started, the level of anaesthesia will be administered as required. Although some patients can recall a few happenings, most people then remember very little until they are in the recovery room and it is all over.

HOW WILL I FEEL AFTER MY PROCEDURE?

Upper GI Endoscopy (gastroscopy): There will be no pain or discomfort in the stomach, but it is very common to have a sore throat after the examination (60-70% of patients). This is due to the action of the telescope passing down the oesophagus ('swallowing tube'). The sore throat will last for 24-48 hours and will be helped by paracetamol which the nurses may give on the ward afterwards. You can continue this medication at home, where you should follow the standard doses shown on the bottle.

Lower GI endoscopy (colonoscopy): Again there will be no pain in the stomach from the examination. Most patients notice that they feel slightly distended with 'wind', this is because air is used to help the telescope get round; the air will pass out the natural way. Many patients also comment that their mouth feels dry, this is because they may have been given a medicine (Buscopan) to help relax the bowel in order to make it easier to get the colonoscope round, a side effect of this medicine is a dry mouth. This feeling will pass off within 5-6 hours. Sometimes some patients (<10%) feel slightly 'bruised' around the anus. Many patients will have both upper and lower GI examinations at the same time, so please read the upper GI paragraph above.

The first drink after the operation:

When back on the ward, many patients will be slightly disorientated and some may be irritable. This is often because they are both thirsty and hungry. Small quantities of clear fluids may be started as soon as the patient has fully awoken from the anaesthetic.

When can we expect to go home?

Most patients can go home on the same day. Recovery is very rapid after this type of anaesthetic and patients are usually ready to go home within two hours of their return to the ward. They must have drunk, eaten, passed urine and be steady on their feet. Once they have passed these 'tests' they can go accompanied by a responsible adult.

<< Back to Patient Information List