Endoscopy Specialist

What is an endoscopy?

An endoscopy is a nonsurgical diagnostic procedure used to examine a person’s digestive tract. 

During an endoscopy, your Long Island Gastro provider carefully guides an endoscope — a thin, flexible tube with a light and a camera attached to it— through your mouth, down your throat, and into your esophagus. Once placed, your doctor uses the endoscope to view your esophagus, stomach, and the upper part of your small intestine. 

Why would I need an endoscopy?

The team at Long Island Gastro might recommend an endoscopy to:

Investigate symptoms

If you’re experiencing digestive problems like bloating, nausea, or vomiting, your doctor might recommend an endoscopy to pinpoint the underlying cause. The team also uses endoscopy to diagnose acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Make a diagnosis

Your doctor might also recommend an endoscopy to collect biopsies, or tissue samples, for additional testing. Common digestive problems that might require an endoscopy biopsy include anemia, internal bleeding, inflammation, and certain stomach cancers.

Treat a particular problem

If you have a polyp in your esophagus or another structural problem, your Long Island Gastro provider might recommend treatment. Your doctor can pass special tools through the endoscope to remove foreign objects and growths, or to widen your esophagus if it’s narrowing.

How do I prepare for endoscopy?

Preparing for an upper endoscopy is easy and hassle-free. All you have to do is fast for six to eight hours before your procedure. If your provider wants to perform a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, you might also have to take a series of laxatives in order to clear out your bowels. 

How long does an endoscopy take?

An endoscopy typically takes no longer than one hour. 

On the day of your appointment, your Long Island Gastro provider reviews your medical history and walks you through the procedure. After answering any questions that you have, your provider administers a sedative via an injection. The sedative promotes relaxation and helps you sleep.

Once you fall asleep, the team carefully inserts the endoscope into your mouth, down your esophagus, and into your digestive tract. After examining your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine, your doctor removes the endoscope and waits for the sedative to wear off.

You’re able to leave about 90 minutes after your procedure, but you’ll need to have a friend or family member drive you home because of the sedation.

Alternatively, your provider may perform a capsule endoscopy, which doesn’t require an endoscope or sedation. This type of procedure is performed using a pill-sized capsule, which is capable of capturing high-resolution images of your gastrointestinal tract. The disposable capsule typically passes with a normal bowel movement, and the images are transmitted to your physician. 

Don’t let stomach-related health problems prevent you from living your best life. Request an appointment at Long Island Gastro by calling or using the online booking tool today.