Common problems for urban people such as acid reflux and indigestion are the signs of gastric ulcers or esophageal inflammation. When a doctor suggests that you have a gastroscopy to find out the cause, do you know what gastroscopy is like?
Gastroscopy (commonly known as uppergastroscopy) is mainly used to examine the inner wall of the upper gastrointestinal tract (ie, esophagus, stomach and duodenum). After spraying an anesthetic on the throat, the doctor will insert an endoscope with a diameter of about 0.9 to 1.2 centimeters into the patient's body through the mouth. During the process, the doctor needs to inflate the endoscope into the body to open the stomach to facilitate the examination. This may cause the patient to feel nausea, mild sore throat, and upper abdominal distension.
When will the doctor ask you for a gastroscopy?
- Unexplained upper abdominal pain for more than a week, which cannot be improved by medication.
- Malignancy is suspected.
- Have difficulty swallowing and painful swallowing. It may be esophageal ulceration, and gastroscopy can also be used.
- Vomiting blood and dissolving melena may be bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract. For diagnosis and treatment, is requiredGastroscopy (OGD).
- During examination by other departments, it is suspected that there may be abnormalities in the stomach, and possible lesions need to be ruled out.
- Esophageal and gastric varices caused by liver cirrhosis, or ligation of esophageal blood vessels.
When should you have regular gastroscopy?
- Patients with gastric ulcers should undergo regular check-ups as directed by their doctor.
- Patients with liver cirrhosis also need regular check-ups.
- After polyps in the digestive tract are removed, follow up regularly as directed by your doctor to see if there is recurrence. If the cut tissue is obviously bad, the time will be shortened or even done again immediately.
- If someone in your immediate family has had gastric cancer, similar lifestyle and similar genes may increase the chance of developing gastric cancer, so you can get regular check-ups.
- After gastric cancer patients undergo surgery, doctors will conduct regular follow-up visits at different stages.
Under what circumstances cannot a gastroscopy be performed?
- Those who have recently (3 to 6 months) had myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, or severe myocardial hypoxia.
- Those with severe lung disease or asthma should undergo treatment and evaluation before proceeding.
- I just had an operation in the past 1 to 2 weeks. I will wait until the wound heals and get permission from the doctor.
- The esophagus or throat is narrow and the gastroscope cannot be inserted.
- For those with congenital esophageal anomalies, the gastroscope cannot pass through and cannot be forced.
- For those with congenital esophageal anomalies, the gastroscope cannot pass through and cannot be forced.
