The investigation

Gastroscopy 

 When it is your turn you will be escorted into the procedure room where the endoscopist and the nurses will introduce themselves and you will have the opportunity to ask any further questions. 

If you have any dentures you will be asked to remove them at this point – any remaining teeth will be protected by a small plastic mouth guard which will be inserted immediately before the examination commences. 

The nurse looking after you will ask you to lie on your left side. She will then place the oxygen monitoring probe on your finger. The sedation will then be administered into a cannula (tube) in your vein. 

Any saliva or other secretions produced during the investigation will be removed using a small suction tube, again rather like the one used at the dentist.

The endoscopist will introduce the gastroscope into your mouth, down your oesophagus into your stomach and then into your duodenum. Your windpipe is deliberately avoided and your breathing unhindered. 

During the procedure samples may be taken from the lining of your digestive tract for analysis in our laboratories.

Colonoscopy

 On completion of the gastroscopy the nurse will reposition the trolley you are on ready for the endoscopist to proceed with the colonoscopy. 

The colonoscopy involves passing the colonoscope around the entire length of your large bowel. There are some bends that naturally occur in the bowel and negotiating these may be uncomfortable for a short period of time. The sedation and analgesia minimises any discomfort. 

Air is gently pressed into the bowel during the investigation to facilitate the examination but most of this is removed as the scope is withdrawn from the bowel. 

During the procedure samples may be taken from the lining of your bowel for analysis in our laboratories. These will be retained.