Combined Gastroscopy (OGD) and colonoscopy information

The first procedure you will be having is called an oesophagogastro-duodenoscopy (OGD) sometimes known more simply as a gastroscopy or endoscopy. This is an examination of your oesophagus (gullet), stomach and the first part of your small bowel called the duodenum. 

The second procedure you will be having is called a colonoscopy. This is an examination of your large bowel (colon). 

They will be performed by or under the supervision of a trained doctor or nurse endoscopist and we will make the investigation as comfortable as possible for you. 

Before you have a combined gastroscopy and colonoscopy procedure you will usually be given sedation and a painkiller.

Why do I need to have an OGD and colonoscopy? 

You have been advised to undergo these combined investigations to help find the cause for your symptoms thereby facilitating treatment, and if necessary, to decide on further investigations. 

The main reason for having these combined procedures is to investigate the cause of anaemia with or without changes in your bowel habit. 

X-ray examinations are available as alternative investigations but have the disadvantage of not allowing tissue samples to be taken and can can be less informative than endoscopy.

What is gastroscopy? 

This test is a very accurate way of looking at the lining of your upper digestive tract, and to establish whether there is any disease present. 

The instrument used in this investigation is called a gastroscope. It is flexible and has a diameter less than that of a little finger. 

Within each gastroscope is an illumination channel which enables light to be directed onto the lining of your upper digestive tract and another which relays pictures back to the endoscopist onto a television screen. During the investigation, the doctor may need to take some tissue samples (biopsies) from the lining of your upper digestive tract for analysis: this is painless. The samples will be retained. A video recording and/ or photographs may be taken for your records.

What is colonoscopy?

This test is a very accurate way of looking at the lining of your large bowel (colon), to establish whether there is any disease present. This test also allows us to take tissue samples (biopsy) for analysis by the Pathology Department if necessary.

 The instrument used in this investigation is called a colonoscope (scope) and is flexible. As with the gastroscope there is an illumination channel which enables light to be directed onto the lining of your bowel, and another which relays pictures back, onto a television screen. This enables the endoscopist to have a clear view and to check whether or not disease or inflammation is present. During these investigations the endoscopist may need to take some samples from the lining of your colon for analysis, this is painless. These samples will be retained. A video recording and photographs can be taken for record and documentation purposes.