An upper endoscopy (or Gastroscopy) is a procedure used to visually examine your upper digestive system with a tiny camera on the end of a long, flexible tube. A specialist in diseases of the digestive system (gastroenterologist) uses an endoscopy to diagnose and, sometimes, treat conditions that affect the esophagus, stomach and beginning of the small intestine (duodenum).

The medical term for an upper endoscopy is esophago-gastroduodenoscopy. You can have an upper endoscopy done in your doctor's office, an outpatient surgery center or a hospital.

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What is an Endoscopy or Gastroscopy?

• A simple and effective means to assess symptoms by inserting a small camera through the mouth to get a clear view of the oesophagus, stomach and small intestine.
• Symptoms can be such as:
  1) upper abdominal pain
  2) nausea and vomiting
  3) reflux
  4) difficulty swallowing
  5) weight loss
• Also used to treat some condition, in order to prevent the need for invasive surgery.

When is a Endoscopy or Gastroscopy performed?

• A gastroscopy can be used to check symptoms or confirm a diagnosis, or it can be used to treat a condition.
• A gastroscopy is also used to help confirm (or rule out) suspected conditions, such as:
  1) stomach ulcers (sometimes know as peptic ulcers) – open sores that develop on the lining of the stomach and small intestine
  2) gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – where stomach acid leaks back up into the oesophagus
  3) coeliac disease – a common digestive condition, where a person has an adverse reaction to gluten in food
  4) Barrett's oesophagus – abnormal cells on the lining of the oesophagus
  5) portal hypertension – where the blood pressure inside the liver is abnormally high, causing swollen veins (varices) to develop on the lining of the stomach and oesophagus
  6) stomach cancer and oesophageal cancer