Upper Endoscopy (also called an esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD) is a special test that lets the doctor look at the lining of your GI tract. After you are asleep, an endoscope — a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera on the end — is inserted into your mouth in order to visualize the esophagus, stomach, and beginning of the small intestine.
Overview
Small tissue samples — the size of a pinhead — (called biopsies) are collected. A pathology laboratory will use these samples to help with diagnosis.
Some reasons why you may need an upper endoscopy:
- Vomiting
- Trouble swallowing
- Trouble growing
- Diarrhea
- Belly pain
- Taking out food, coins, or other things that get stuck
What happens before and after the test?
Before the test: On the morning of the test, you should not eat or drink anything because this can cause problems with the sleep medicine administered before the test. Please ask your doctor whether you should stop taking any current medications in advance before the test.
After the test: Your doctor will update you on what was found during the test. If tissue samples were taken during the test, it will take 1-2 weeks to receive the results from the pathology lab. Your doctor will let you know when these results are back. Once you are drinking well, you can start eating again and go home. A few patients feel sick after the test and may be watched a little longer until they feel better.
After the test, if you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor or go to the Emergency Department:
- Stomach pain for more than an hour. Most patients feel fine after the test.
- Throwing up several times. To make sure this is not a problem, have them drink small amounts of beverages like Sprite or ginger ale, and popsicles.
- Bleeding. Spitting up small amounts of blood may be normal. However, if there is more than a spoonful or it lasts longer than 1 day, let your doctor know.
- Fever
- Sore throat. You may have a sore throat for a day or two after the test. If this is really bad or does not go away contact your doctor.
Our approach
The Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition specialists at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital brings help and hope to pediatric patients. We’re saving lives through innovation— leading the nation in developing new treatment methods for kids of all ages. For the 11th consecutive year, M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital has earned a spot among the best children’s hospitals in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.
We provide outstanding care for advanced GI and liver diseases, including treatment of liver failure, liver transplant, total pancreatectomy with auto islet cells transplant.
Why parents choose us?
We offer:
- A dedicated team of 8 Pediatric Gastroenterologists, and 1 Advanced Practice Provider Private hospital rooms to reduce infections and other complications
- High-level academic research and skilled practitioners in all pediatric subspecialties Platinum Level ECMO Center of Excellence
- State-of-the-science liver transplantation
- Largest and most experienced pediatric total pancreatectomy, islet autotransplantation program in the world
- Innovation to provide the best possible care to childre
Research and innovation
Our pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology team currently conducts clinical and epidemiologic studies in:
- Inflammatory bowel diseases in children, including newly developed treatment modalities, quality improvement studies and epidemiological studies
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Chronic hepatitis B
- Pediatric nutrition
- Gastrointestinal, liver, and nutritional complications of pediatric cystic fibrosis