Upper GI Endoscopy

Upper GI endoscopy is a test to see inside your child’s upper GI (gastrointestinal) tract. The upper GI tract is made up of:

• The tube that carries food and liquid from the throat to the stomach (esophagus).
• The stomach.
• The first part of the small intestine (duodenum).

In this procedure, your child’s health care provider passes a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) through the mouth and down the esophagus into the stomach. A small camera is attached to the end of the tube. Images from the camera appear on a monitor in the exam room. During this procedure, your child’s health care provider may also remove a small piece of tissue to be sent to a lab and examined under a microscope (biopsy).

Your child may have this procedure to find the cause of conditions, such as:

• Nausea or vomiting.
• Pain or problems when swallowing.
• Stomach pain.
• Diarrhea.
• Trouble gaining weight.

Tell your child’s health care provider about:

• Any allergies your child has.
• All medicines your child is taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Any problems your child or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
• Any blood disorders your child has.
• Any surgeries your child has had.
• Any medical conditions your child has.

What are the risks?

Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:

• Infection.
• Bleeding.
• Allergic reactions to medicines.
• A tear or hole (perforation) in the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum.

What happens before the procedure?

Staying hydrated

Follow instructions from your child’s health care provider about hydration, which may include:

• Up to 2 hours before the procedure – your child may continue to drink clear liquids, such as water or clear fruit juice.

Eating and drinking restrictions

Follow instructions from your child’s health care provider about eating and drinking, which may include:

• 8 hours before the procedure – have your child stop eating foods.
• 6 hours before the procedure – have your child stop drinking formula or milk.
• 4 hours before the procedure – stop giving your child breast milk.
• 2 hours before the procedure – have your child stop drinking clear liquids.

General instructions

• Ask your child’s health care provider about:
  • Changing or stopping your child’s regular medicines. This is especially important if your child is taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
  • Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your child’s blood. Do not give these medicines to your child before the procedure if your child’s health care provider instructs you not to.
• Plan to take your child home from the hospital or clinic.
• If your child will be going home right after the procedure, plan be with your child for 24 hours.

What happens during the procedure?

• An IV tube may be inserted into one of your child’s veins.
• Your child will be given one or more of the following:
  • A medicine to help your child relax (sedative).
  • A medicine to numb the throat (local anesthetic).
  • A medicine to make your child fall asleep (general anesthetic).
• Your child will lie on his or her side on an examination table.
• The health care provider will put the endoscope into your child’s mouth and down your child’s esophagus.
• The health care provider will use the scope to check the inside of your child’s esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Tissue samples (biopsies) may be taken to be examined.
• The endoscope will be removed.

The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.

What happens after the procedure?

• Your child’s blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored until the medicines your child was given have worn off.
• If your child is of driving age, do not let your child drive for 24 hours if he or she received a sedative.

Care After the Procedure

This is the information about how to care for your child after the procedure. Your child’s health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your child’s health care provider.

What can I expect after the procedure?

After the procedure, it is common for your child to have:

• Mild discomfort and stomach pain for about an hour.
• Tiredness.
• Bloating or nausea.
• A sore throat for a couple of days.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Have your child rest for one day or as told by your child’s health care provider.
• Follow instructions from your child’s health care provider about what to give your child to eat or drink after the procedure.
• Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
• If your child is of driving age, do not let your child drive for 24 hours if he or she received a medicine to help him or her relax (sedative).
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your child has stomach pain that gets worse or does not go away after a couple hours.
• Your child vomits several times.
• Your child spits up blood for more than a day.
• Your child has a bad sore throat.
• Your child has a sore throat that does not go away after two days.

Get help right away if:

• Your child spits up more than a spoonful of blood.
• Your child has a fever.
• Your child has black or bloody vomit or stools.
• Your child has trouble breathing or swallowing.
• Your child has chest pain.