Endoscopic Upper GI

An upper GI endoscopy, also called a gastroscopy, allows your doctor to look inside your upper digestive system to diagnose and sometimes treat conditions that affect your oesophagus, stomach and beginning of your small intestine.

A specialist in diseases of the digestive system, called a gastroenterologist, uses an endoscope which is a long, flexible tube with a tiny light and video camera on one end. The tube is passed through your mouth and throat to your oesophagus and stomach and into your duodenum. Your gastroenterologist will see a video image on a monitor.

You will be given a local anaesthetic and often a sedative beforehand to numb your throat and relax you.

They will check for symptoms that suggest an upper GI tract problem. These may include stomach pain, heartburn or indigestion, continual feeling and being sick, difficulty or pain swallowing and bleeding.

An upper GI endoscopy can also help diagnose or rule out suspected conditions such as stomach ulcers, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), coeliac disease, Barrett's oesophagus, portal hypertension and stomach or oesophageal cancer.

Your gastroenterologist may remove small samples of tissue for testing, called a biopsy.

They may also insert small tools into the endoscope so they can treat some problems. This may include removing items such as food that are stuck and blocking your upper GI tract, stopping bleeding inside your stomach or oesophagus, widening a narrowed oesophagus that is painful and causing swallowing difficulties, removing cancerous tumours and non-cancerous growths (polyps), and providing nutrients through a feeding tube.

An upper GI endoscopy typically takes 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your situation. It may take longer if it is treating a condition at the same time.

An upper GI endoscopy is considered a medical procedure if it is being used to diagnose a condition. If it is used to treat a condition of your GI tract then it can be referred to as minimally invasive surgery.

If you had a sedative, you'll need to rest until it has worn off. You will also need to arrange for someone to take you home and to stay with you for 24 hours. You will be able to go back to work when the sedative has worn off.

You may feel bloated and have a bit of a sore throat for a few hours following your procedure but this will pass. We will tell you what was found during your upper GI endoscopy. We will discuss with you any treatment or follow-up you need.

The private endoscopy cost will depend on whether you are an outpatient or day case patient, if treatment is performed, and your Ramsay hospital of choice.

You will receive a formal quotation price following your consultation with one of our expert surgeons. This formal quote for your upper GI endoscopy will be valid for 60 days and includes unlimited aftercare.

Ramsay is recognised by all major medical insurers. Upper GI endoscopy, or gastroscopy, is covered by most medical insurance policies. We advise you to obtain written authorisation from your insurance provider before starting your treatment.

We offer various ways to pay for your upper GI endoscopy yourself. These include:

• Interest-free finance – 0% interest, no deposit and affordable monthly instalments.
• All-inclusive Total Care - one-off pre-agreed payment for access to all the treatment you need for complete reassurance.
• Pay as you go – flexible funding to pay for treatment as and when costs arise. Often used if your treatment costs are difficult to assess.

Esophageal dilatation involves stretching the narrowed area of your esophagus as part of an upper GI endoscopy.

An upper GI endoscopy and dilatation usually takes about a quarter of an hour. The endoscopist can perform a dilatation using a guidewire and dilators or a balloon dilator.