An upper endoscopy (EGD) allows your clinician to examine the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine. It can also treat certain findings during the same visit.
A thin camera is passed through the mouth to examine the upper GI tract while you’re relaxed under sedation. Your clinician may take small biopsies or treat certain problems during the exam. It’s usually a short procedure.
Most patients receive sedation and are monitored closely. Complications are uncommon but can include bleeding (especially with biopsies/treatment), perforation, or medication reactions. You’ll need a driver home if sedation is used.
The most important part of EGD prep is having an empty stomach so your airway and lungs stay protected during sedation. You will need to stop eating solid food well before your procedure and stop drinking liquids a set number of hours before you arrive.
If you do not use a GLP-1 medication, you will typically stop solid food at least eight hours before your procedure and stop all liquids four hours before your arrival time, except for small sips of water with essential medications.
If you do use a GLP-1 medication (such as Ozempic or Mounjaro), your instructions may include clear liquids only the day before your procedure and the same four-hour cutoff for liquids on the day of the exam. You will also receive specific guidance for diabetes and weight-loss medicines, blood thinners, and any other high-risk medications.
You’ll receive written EGD prep instructions that apply to your situation. Following these timing rules closely helps keep you safe and allows your procedure to go forward as scheduled.
When you arrive, you’ll check in and review your medical history, medications, and allergies with the care team. An IV will be started for sedation, and your throat may be numbed with a spray to reduce gagging. A small mouthpiece is placed to protect your teeth and the scope.
Once you are comfortably sedated, the provider passes the endoscope through your mouth and guides it down the esophagus, into the stomach, and into the first part of the small intestine. Air is introduced gently to expand the area for better viewing. Biopsies can be taken and certain treatments performed through the scope. You may feel some pressure or fullness in your upper abdomen but should not feel pain. The scope is then slowly withdrawn while the upper GI tract is carefully re-examined.
After your EGD, you’ll rest in a recovery area while the sedation wears off. Your throat may feel slightly sore or scratchy, and you might feel bloated from the air used during the procedure. These symptoms usually improve over a few hours. Your provider will review the findings with you and your driver, including whether any biopsies were taken and when to expect results.
Because of the sedation, you must have a responsible adult drive you home. Do not drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol, or make important decisions for the rest of the day. Most patients can return to normal eating later that day, starting with small, soft foods, unless you are given different instructions.
Call us right away or seek urgent care if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, fever, vomiting blood, black stools, or severe or worsening pain after your procedure.
If your insurance requires a referral or prior authorization, our billing office will make every effort to obtain it before services are rendered. If you choose to proceed without required authorization, insurance may deny coverage. If you are a Medicare patient, you may be asked to sign an Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) acknowledging financial responsibility if insurance does not pay. If you are enrolled in a commercial insurance plan you will be asked to sign a non-covered services form.