Gastroscopy in the Rooms

A gastroscopy is a procedure performed to examine the oesophagus (which carries food from the mouth to the stomach), the stomach, and the first section of the small intestine called the duodenum. A gastroscopy is indicated for diagnostic purposes in cases of:

• Recurring indigestion and heartburn
• Difficulty swallowing
• Upper abdominal pain
• Vomiting frequently
• Haematemesis, when you are vomiting blood
• Barrett's oesophagus, a condition where there is abnormal change on the mucosal cells lining the lower section of the oesophagus
• Gastric or duodenal ulcer
• Oesophageal or gastric cancer

We perform all our procedures in the rooms. We use a fully equipped endoscopy room with trained staff. The advantage of this is that it makes procedures quick and simple for both the patient and our staff. A gastroscopy test takes about 3 minutes to perform. Because we are not subject to hospital costs, our prices are much lower than the others, which is beneficial for both the patient and medical aid.

Gastroscopy involves passing a 9 mm flexible tube consisting of a video camera called a gastroscope. This is passed through the mouth into the gastrointestinal tract to examine the gastrointestinal tract for any abnormalities. A biopsy will also be done if abnormalities are detected. In theory, this should be a simple, painless procedure, and it is! The problem is that we all try to protect our breathing passages, so patients commonly experience a feeling of suffocation. Once a breath is taken through the nose, our subconscious usually relaxes and allows the gastroscopy procedure to go ahead without any problem. Clearly, this is easier said than done. To help, we give a mild sedative and most importantly spray an anaesthetic spray in the throat. The 2 to 3 minutes it takes makes it easier for us to perform the procedure in 99% of patients!