Location of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Image from the National Institutes of Health

Upper endoscopy lets your doctor to look inside the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (first part of the small intestine). The procedure might be used to discover the reason for swallowing difficulties, nausea, vomiting, reflux, bleeding, indigestion, abdominal pain, or chest pain. Upper endoscopy is also called EGD, which stands for esophagogastroduodenoscopy.

For the procedure the doctor will insert a thin, flexible, lighted tube called an endoscope (EN-doh-skope). Right before the procedure the physician will spray your throat with a numbing agent that may help prevent gagging. You may also receive pain medicine and a sedative to help you relax during the exam. The endoscope transmits an image of the inside of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, so the physician can carefully examine the lining of these organs. The scope also blows air into the stomach; this expands the folds of tissue and makes it easier for the physician to examine the stomach.

Endoscope

The physician can see abnormalities, like inflammation or bleeding, through the endoscope that don't show up well on x-rays. The physician can also insert instruments into the scope to remove samples of tissue (biopsy) for further tests or treat bleeding abnormalities. Possible complications of upper endoscopy include bleeding and puncture of the stomach lining. However, such complications are rare. Most people will probably have nothing more than a mild sore throat after the procedure.

The procedure takes 20 to 30 minutes. Because you will be sedated, you will need to rest at the endoscopy facility for 1 to 2 hours until the medication wears off.

	see also:		Upper Endoscopy Preparation

Your procedure will be performed at one of these two facilities:

Athens Regional Medical Center: Report directly to the Endoscopy Department in the North Tower. Park in the Short Term Parking lot off of Prince Avenue and enter through the North Tower entrance. You will register in the Endoscopy Department. The main number for Athens Regional is (706) 475-7000.

St. Mary's Hospital: Park in the Parking Deck off of Baxter Street. Report directly to Outpatient Registration near the Emergency Room. You will register there, and will be escorted to the Endoscopy Department. The main number for St. Mary's is (706) 354-3000.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call our office at (706) 548-0058. If you have specific questions about the hospital where the procedure is to be performed, please call the hospital directly.

This information was obtained from the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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