What to Expect When Attending for a Gastroscopy / OGD
If you are booked to have a gastroscopy, also known as an OGD or upper GI endoscopy, this page explains what usually happens before, during, and after the procedure.
An OGD is a camera test used to examine the inside of the gullet, stomach, and the first part of the small bowel, known as the duodenum. It can help investigate symptoms such as indigestion, reflux, swallowing difficulty, abdominal pain, anaemia, nausea, vomiting, or bleeding.
Before your OGD
Before your OGD, you will receive instructions from Mr Stylianides’ office explaining how to prepare for the procedure.
Unlike a colonoscopy, you do not need bowel preparation for an OGD. However, your stomach needs to be empty so that the test can be performed safely and clearly.
You will usually need to fast before the procedure. This means avoiding food for a period of time beforehand. You may be allowed to drink clear fluids up to a certain point, depending on the instructions you are given.
Please follow the fasting instructions carefully. If there is food or fluid in the stomach, the procedure may need to be delayed or rearranged for safety reasons.
On the day of your OGD
On the day of your OGD, you will attend Spire Manchester Hospital and be admitted by the nursing staff.
The nursing team will check your details, go through some routine questions, and make sure you are ready for the procedure.
Mr Stylianides will see you before the OGD to confirm the plan, check that you are well, and answer any last-minute questions.
A small cannula may be inserted into a vein in your arm or hand if you are having intravenous sedation or if any medication is required during the procedure.
In the endoscopy room
You will then be taken to the endoscopy room.
There, you will be introduced to the endoscopy nurses who will be looking after you during the procedure. Their role is to support you, monitor your comfort and safety, and assist Mr Stylianides during the OGD.
Before the procedure starts, standard safety checks will be completed. These checks are routine and are done for every patient.
You may be offered either throat spray, sedation, or both, depending on what has been discussed and what is appropriate for you.
During the OGD
During the OGD, a thin flexible camera is passed through the mouth, down the gullet, into the stomach, and into the first part of the small bowel.
The test is usually short and often takes only a few minutes.
An OGD can feel uncomfortable, but it should not be painful. You may feel some gagging or retching as the camera passes through the throat. This is common and usually settles quickly once the camera is in position.
If sedation is used, it will be given through the cannula. Sedation helps you feel more relaxed and can make the procedure easier to tolerate. Some patients remember very little of the procedure afterwards.
If needed, small samples called biopsies may be taken. These are usually painless.
After the procedure
After the OGD, you will be taken to the recovery area or ward, where the nursing staff will monitor you.
Mr Stylianides will let you know the findings of the procedure before you go home. You may also receive written information about the result.
If biopsies have been taken, these samples are sent to the laboratory. Results usually take around 7 to 10 days to be processed. You will then be invited back to clinic to discuss the results and any further treatment or follow-up that may be needed.
Going home after sedation
If you have sedation, you must have someone responsible to take you home and stay with you overnight for safety reasons.
Following sedation, it is against hospital policy for you to drive yourself home. You should also not go home alone by taxi or public transport.
You should arrange for a responsible adult to collect you from the hospital and remain with you overnight.
What to avoid after sedation
After sedation, your judgement and reactions may be affected for the rest of the day.
You should avoid:
- driving
- drinking alcohol
- operating machinery
- signing important documents
- making major decisions
You should rest for the remainder of the day and follow any discharge advice given by the hospital team.
If you have throat spray only
Some patients have the procedure with throat spray rather than sedation.
If you have throat spray only, your throat may feel numb for a short period afterwards. You should not eat or drink until the numbness has worn off and the nursing team confirms it is safe to do so.
If you have not had sedation, you may not need the same restrictions on driving or being accompanied home, but you should follow the advice given by the hospital team on the day.
Follow-up
Your follow-up will depend on the findings of the OGD.
You may be invited back to clinic to discuss:
- biopsy results
- inflammation, gastritis, or ulcers
- reflux-related findings
- hiatus hernia
- swallowing symptoms
- whether further tests or treatment are needed
- ongoing symptoms or concerns
The aim is to make sure you understand the findings clearly and know what happens next.