Why Do An Upper Endoscopy?
Upper endoscopy is performed to evaluate symptoms of persistent upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing or heartburn. It is an excellent method for finding the cause of bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract. It is more accurate than X-rays for detecting inflammation, ulcers or tumors of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. Upper endoscopy can detect early cancer and can distinguish between cancerous and non-cancerous conditions by performing biopsies of suspicious areas. These are then sent to the laboratory to be analyzed. A biopsy is taken for many reasons and does not mean that cancer is suspected. What Preparation Is Required? The stomach should be completely empty. You should have nothing to eat or drink after midnight prior to the day before the examination. Your doctor will be more specific about the time to begin fasting depending on the time of day that your test is scheduled. Medication may need to be adjusted or avoided. It is therefore best to
