What is an upper endoscopy?
An upper endoscopy (gastroscopy or EGD) uses a thin, flexible camera to examine your oesophagus, stomach, and the top of the small intestine, find the cause of symptoms, and take tissue samples if needed. For most people it is a short, well-tolerated procedure done under sedation.
Why your doctor may recommend it
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Stomach (upper belly) pain
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Bleeding or signs of it, such as black stools
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Reflux or heartburn that won’t settle
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Difficulty or pain when swallowing
How to prepare
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No bowel prep needed — your stomach just needs to be empty
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Follow the fasting instructions you are given (no solid food before your start time)
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Tell us about all your medicines — blood thinners and some diabetes medicines may need pausing
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You will be sedated, so arrange a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you
During & after the procedure
You receive IV sedation (and often a throat-numbing spray) while the specialist passes the camera through the mouth into the stomach, taking biopsies if needed. The exam takes about 10 minutes; plan for roughly 2 hours in total. A mildly sore throat or bloating afterwards is normal and settles within a couple of hours.
Do not drive for 8–10 hours after the procedure
No work, heavy tasks, or signing important documents that day
Do not restart blood thinners or aspirin until your endoscopist says so
A biopsy is routine (sometimes to check for H. pylori) and does NOT mean cancer is suspected
You get a written report; lab results can take up to 3 weeks
