WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED DURING EGD?
Your physician will review with you why EGD is being performed, potential complications from EGD, and alternative diagnostics or therapeutic tests that are available. A local anesthetic may be applied to your throat and an intravenous sedative will be given to make you more comfortable during the test; most patients remember or feel very little of the examination and many patients fall asleep during the test. Some patients may also receive antibiotics before the procedure. The test begins with you lying comfortably on your left side. The endoscope is passed through the mouth, esophagus and stomach into the duodenum. The instrument does not interfere with breathing. Air is introduced through the instrument and may cause temporary bloating during and after the procedure. The test usually lasts between 5 and 15 minutes.
