What is Gastroscopy?
Gastroscopy is a safe and effective method of visualising the oesophagus(food pipe) and the stomach using a long flexible endoscope. It is used to diagnose problems with the oesophagus and stomach (e.g gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastritis, ulcers, cancers).
Most gastroscopy are done on an outpatient basis with minimal inconvenience and discomfort.
Who should have a Gastroscopy?
A gastroscopy is usually performed to investigate the following symptoms:
How is Gastroscopy performed?
Gastroscopy is usually perofrmed as an outpatient ‘day case’. Patient will need to be fasted 6 hours before the procedure. Your doctor may numb the back of your throat by spraying some local anaesthetic. To help you to relax, your doctor may also give you an intravenous sedative. You will be positioned on your side on a couch and a plastic mouth guard will be put between your teeth. This is to protect your teeth and prevents you from biting the endoscope.The endoscope will then be inserted into your mouth and gently pushed further down to the oesopagus and subsequently into your stomach and duodenum.
The entire procedure usually takes about 15 minutes. After the procedure, there may be slight abdominal discomfort or bloating sensation, which quickly resolves with expelling of gas. Most patients can resume their regular diet and activities the same day. You are advised not to drive for the next 24 hours after the procedure and can return to work the next day.
What are the risks of Gastroscopy?
Gastroscopy is a very safe procedure with complications occurring in less than 1% of patients.
What is Colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is a safe and effective method of visualising the lining of the colon and rectum, using a long, flexible endoscope. It is used to diagnose colon and rectum problems (eg. colorectal cancer) and to perform biopsies and remove colonic polyps. Most colonoscopy are done on an outpatient basis with minimal inconvenience and discomfort.
Who should have a Colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is routinely recommended to adults 50 years of age or older as part of a colorectal cancer screening program. Patients with a personal or family history of colon or rectal cancer or polyps, or inflammatory bowel diseases, may have their colonoscopy at an earlier age. Your doctor may also recommend a colonoscopy evaluation if you have bleeding or blood in stools, positive test for blood in stool (FOBT), change in bowel habits, abdominal discomfort or pain, unexplained weight loss or anaemia. A colonoscopy is also necessary to verify findings of polyps or tumours seen in CT scan or barium enema examination.
How is Colonoscopy performed?
The bowel must first be thoroughly cleared of all residue before a colonoscopy. Therefore a good bowel preparation is essential. This is done with a preparation prescribed by your doctor.
All patients will receive intravenous sedation for this procedure. The colonoscope is inserted into the rectum and is advanced to the caecum, the part of the colon where the small intestine joins the colon. During a complete examination of the large intestine, your doctor will remove polyps or take biopsies as necessary.
The entire procedure usually takes about half an hour. After the procedure, there may be slight abdominal discomfort or bloating sensation, which quickly resolves with expelling of gas. Most patients can resume their regular diet and activities the same day. You are advised not to drive for the next 24 hours after the procedure and can return to work the next day.
What are the benefits of colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is more accurate than X-ray or CT scan (virtual colonoscopy) evaluation to detect polyps or early cancer. With colonoscopy, it is now possible to remove polyps without abdominal surgery. Removing polyps early can prevent the development of colorectal cancer.
What are the risks of colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is a very safe procedure with complications occurring in less than 1% of patients. These complications include bleeding, tear in the intestine (perforation), risks of intravenous sedation and failure to detect a polyp.
Gastroscopy is a safe and effective method of visualising the oesophagus(food pipe) and the stomach using a long flexible endoscope. It is used to diagnose problems with the oesophagus and stomach (e.g gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastritis, ulcers, cancers).
Most gastroscopy are done on an outpatient basis with minimal inconvenience and discomfort.
Who should have a Gastroscopy?
A gastroscopy is usually performed to investigate the following symptoms:
- Recurrent indigestion
- Recurrent heartburn
- Upper abdominal pain or discomfort
- Difficulty swallowing
- Repeated vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
- Vomiting blood or passing foul smelling black tarry stools
How is Gastroscopy performed?
Gastroscopy is usually perofrmed as an outpatient ‘day case’. Patient will need to be fasted 6 hours before the procedure. Your doctor may numb the back of your throat by spraying some local anaesthetic. To help you to relax, your doctor may also give you an intravenous sedative. You will be positioned on your side on a couch and a plastic mouth guard will be put between your teeth. This is to protect your teeth and prevents you from biting the endoscope.The endoscope will then be inserted into your mouth and gently pushed further down to the oesopagus and subsequently into your stomach and duodenum.
The entire procedure usually takes about 15 minutes. After the procedure, there may be slight abdominal discomfort or bloating sensation, which quickly resolves with expelling of gas. Most patients can resume their regular diet and activities the same day. You are advised not to drive for the next 24 hours after the procedure and can return to work the next day.
What are the risks of Gastroscopy?
Gastroscopy is a very safe procedure with complications occurring in less than 1% of patients.
What is Colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is a safe and effective method of visualising the lining of the colon and rectum, using a long, flexible endoscope. It is used to diagnose colon and rectum problems (eg. colorectal cancer) and to perform biopsies and remove colonic polyps. Most colonoscopy are done on an outpatient basis with minimal inconvenience and discomfort.
Who should have a Colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is routinely recommended to adults 50 years of age or older as part of a colorectal cancer screening program. Patients with a personal or family history of colon or rectal cancer or polyps, or inflammatory bowel diseases, may have their colonoscopy at an earlier age. Your doctor may also recommend a colonoscopy evaluation if you have bleeding or blood in stools, positive test for blood in stool (FOBT), change in bowel habits, abdominal discomfort or pain, unexplained weight loss or anaemia. A colonoscopy is also necessary to verify findings of polyps or tumours seen in CT scan or barium enema examination.
How is Colonoscopy performed?
The bowel must first be thoroughly cleared of all residue before a colonoscopy. Therefore a good bowel preparation is essential. This is done with a preparation prescribed by your doctor.
All patients will receive intravenous sedation for this procedure. The colonoscope is inserted into the rectum and is advanced to the caecum, the part of the colon where the small intestine joins the colon. During a complete examination of the large intestine, your doctor will remove polyps or take biopsies as necessary.
The entire procedure usually takes about half an hour. After the procedure, there may be slight abdominal discomfort or bloating sensation, which quickly resolves with expelling of gas. Most patients can resume their regular diet and activities the same day. You are advised not to drive for the next 24 hours after the procedure and can return to work the next day.
What are the benefits of colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is more accurate than X-ray or CT scan (virtual colonoscopy) evaluation to detect polyps or early cancer. With colonoscopy, it is now possible to remove polyps without abdominal surgery. Removing polyps early can prevent the development of colorectal cancer.
What are the risks of colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is a very safe procedure with complications occurring in less than 1% of patients. These complications include bleeding, tear in the intestine (perforation), risks of intravenous sedation and failure to detect a polyp.