A gastroscopy is usually done as a day-case procedure in hospital. This means that you’ll be an outpatient and won’t need to stay overnight. Before your gastroscopy, you’ll be given information about what is involved and how to prepare for it.
Before coming to hospital
It’s important to follow any advice you’re given.
If you’re taking certain medicines (PPI) that reduce your stomach acid, you may be asked to stop them two weeks beforehand. This is because they might stop your doctor getting a true picture of whether or not there are problems in your gullet or stomach.
It’s particularly important to let your doctor or the hospital team know if you’re taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines (medicines that prevent your blood clotting). These include heparin, aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin and new medicines such as dabigatran and rivaroxaban. If you continue to take medicines that should be stopped, you may still be able to have a gastroscopy. But you probably won’t be able to have a biopsy or a treatment procedure
You should arrange for someone to take you home, and preferably stay with you for 24 hours afterwards.
On the day
Your stomach must be completely empty during the test, so you’ll probably be asked not to eat or drink anything for 6-8 hours before your gastroscopy.
Your doctor will discuss with you what will happen before, during and after your procedure, and any discomfort you might have. They’ll ask if you wish to have a local anaesthetic or sedation or both. The local anaesthetic is a spray that numbs your throat area. The sedative will make you drowsy, and is given as an injection at the start of the procedure.
Ask your doctor to explain the pros and cons of each type of anesthesia. If you choose to have the local anaesthetic spray, it may feel a little more uncomfortable at the time, but you won’t be drowsy afterwards.
