Why have a gastroscopy?
A gastroscopy is useful for finding out the cause of a range of symptoms, such as indigestion, upper abdominal pain, vomiting or bleeding, or as a check-up for certain gastrointestinal conditions. Sometimes, a gastroscopy may be needed to confirm the results of other examinations – a barium meal, for example. During the procedure, the consultant may take a biopsy – a small sample of the lining of the oesophagus, stomach or duodenum – for examination in the laboratory.
