Upper Endoscopy EGD

An upper endoscopy enables the physician to visually examine your upper digestive system.

For the procedure, you will be sedated and then the physician will advance a thin, flexible, lighted tube called a gastroscope through your mouth. The physician will then examine the upper part of your digestive system which includes the esophagus, stomach and beginning of the small intestine (duodenum).

The upper endoscopy is used in the evaluation of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing and gastrointestinal bleeding.

During the procedure polyps can be removed, biopsies can be obtained, sites of bleeding can be cauterized and a narrow esophagus can be dilated.

An upper endoscopy is also known as an esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD.