520 Ellesmere Road, Suite #404, Scarborough, ON, M1R 0B1

Tel: (226) 444 - 7709 | Fax: 1(877) 796 - 4626

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Instructions for Gastroscopy Procedure

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Prior to taking the preparation, please read the details of the procedure including
the procedure requirements, risks and benefits. If you agree to do the procedure after reading the details, then
proceed to prepare for your procedure. If you need further information, please call 1(226) 444 - 7709.

IF YOU CANNOT KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENT: please call 3 business days prior to your appointment so that we
can give the appointment to the next patient on the waiting list. Otherwise, you may incur a “late cancellation
or no-show fee”.

PRIOR TO THE PROCEDURE:

You MUST arrange transportation to and from the centre on the day of the procedure.
We mandate all patients to bring a responsible adult (18 years of age or older) with them to drive or accompany
them home. You will be receiving sedation for this procedure and, therefore, you will not be allowed to drive
yourself home or operate any kind of machinery after your procedure. Failure to bring an adult with you to
accompany you will be considered acting against medical advice, and YOUR PROCEDURE WILL BE CANCELLED.

PLEASE DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING AFTER 10PM ON THE DAY BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE
UNTIL AFTER YOUR PROCEDURE IS COMPLETED.

The DAY OF THE PROCEDURE: Bring your health card and a list of Prescribed Medications.
Please let us know if you have changed your address or contact information recently.

Be prepared to be in the clinic for 2.5 - 3.5 hours.

IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS:
● If you have an artificial heart valve or have atrial fibrillation or are on anticoagulants (Blood
thinners) or have had strokes, recent heart attack or STENT, please check with your doctor prior to altering
any medications listed in this paragraph.
○ If you do not have any of the conditions and are taking Aspirin, Plavix or anticoagulants (blood
thinners), STOP them 5-7 days prior to the procedure.
○ If you are on Iron medication, STOP them 5-7 days prior to the procedure.
○ If you are on Heart pills or Blood pressure pills, you may take the pills on the day of the procedure
with only a sip of water, only just enough to allow you to swallow them.
○ If you are diabetic and on oral medication, do not take these medications while preparing for the
procedure nor on the day of the procedure.
○ If you are diabetic and on insulin, please check with your doctor.
● No Nuts or Seeds 4 days prior to any gastroscopy procedure.

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 Gastroscopy
If you are having the following procedure, please make sure you read the following information.

EGD (also known as esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy) is performed by a flexible fibreoptic tube which transmits a source
of light. Your physician can accurately examine the lining of the upper digestive tract which consists of the oesophagus,
stomach and the first portion of the small intestine (the duodenum). The procedure of EGD is indicated when peptic
ulcer disease, growths or inflammation are suspected. It may also be indicated when the x-ray examination is entirely
normal. EGD is more accurate than x-ray in detecting gastric and duodenal ulcers and may detect early cancers too small
to be seen by x-ray. EGD can also be used to guide devices for the effective control of bleeding from sites in the
oesophagus.

The physician also could take pieces of tissue (biopsy) for examination under the microscope and can also brush cells from
the surface or suspicious areas of examination to the laboratory. Both the biopsy and brush techniques are performed by
the passage of instruments through a channel in the tube without causing any discomfort.
Growths of tissue known as polyps can be removed by the passage of a snare through the instruments. EGD with dilation
may also be required for stretching of the narrowed areas of the oesophagus or for removal of foreign bodies in the upper
digestive tract.

PREPARATION
It is necessary that your stomach is completely empty, therefore, you will be advised to fast after a specific time. During
this time, you will have nothing to eat or drink, including water. Someone will have to drive you home as you will have
received sedation. You should also plan to be absent from work on the day of your procedure.

PROCEDURE ITSELF
You will first receive an intravenous sedative. Then, your throat will be sprayed with a local anaesthetic agent to prevent
you from feeling the instrument as it passes into your stomach.

Many patients are concerned about their breathing and have a fear of choking. The instrument is passed into the
oesophagus so that breathing is not interfered with, and you will be encouraged to breathe normally. Gagging is prevented
or kept to a minimum by spraying your throat with a local anaesthetic and you will be replaced and sleep from medications
given to you through a vein. Once the instrument is passed into the oesophagus most patients tolerate the procedure
with little to no discomfort and may indeed sleep throughout the procedure. You will be aware of some fullness in the
abdomen resulting from air that is inflated into your stomach via the instrument. The stomach distends (like a balloon)
and the examination can be done more accurately with the stomach in this state.

AFTER PROCEDURE
You will feel sleepy for a while, (depending on the amount of sedation required).
When you awake, there may be an awareness of some discomfort in your throat, but this usually disappears after a short
time. You will be left with a sore throat which may last a few days.
You will be able to eat by the time you leave the clinic.

COMPLICATIONS
EGD is a very safe procedure when performed by physicians who have been trained and are experienced in this endoscopic
procedure. Precautions are taken with patients who have a heart condition, and, in some situations, cardiac monitoring
may be necessary during the procedure. This is to recognize any abnormal heart rhythm which will require urgent
treatment. Careful management by the endoscopy nurse usually prevents any aspiration of stomach contents (remember
your stomach will, on occasion, contain a little fluid after an overnight fast) but does rarely occur despite optimum
management.

☺ We wish you the Best of Luck with your Procedure and Good Health in your future. ☺
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