EGD - esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy; Upper endoscopy; Gastroscopy; EGDEsophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a test to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine (the duodenum).
Duodenum
The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine. It is located between the stomach and the middle part of the small intestine, or jejunum. Aft...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleHow the Test is Performed
EGD is done in a hospital or outpatient center by a specially trained doctor called a gastroenterologist. The procedure uses an endoscope. This is a flexible tube with a light and camera at the end.
The procedure is done as follows:
- During the procedure, your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen level are checked. Wires are attached to certain areas of your body and then to machines that monitor these vital signs.
- You receive medicine into a vein to help you relax. You should feel no pain and not remember the procedure.
Medicine into a vein to help you relax
Conscious sedation is a combination of medicines to help you relax (a sedative) and to block pain (an anesthetic) during a medical or dental procedur...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - A local anesthetic may be sprayed into your mouth to prevent you from coughing or gagging when the scope is inserted.
- A mouth guard is used to protect your teeth and the scope. Dentures must be removed before the procedure begins.
- You then lie on your left side.
- The scope is inserted through the esophagus (food pipe) to the stomach and duodenum. The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine.
- Air is put through the scope to make it easier for your doctor to see.
- The lining of the esophagus, stomach, and upper duodenum is examined. Biopsies can be taken through the scope. Biopsies are tissue samples that are looked at under the microscope for signs of disease.
Biopsies
A biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Different treatments may be done, such as stretching or widening a narrowed area of the esophagus.
After the test is finished, you will not be able to have food and liquid until your gag reflex returns (so you do not choke).
The test lasts about 5 to 20 minutes.
Follow any instructions you're given for recovering at home.
Instructions
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a test to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleHow to Prepare for the Test
You will not be able to eat anything for 6 to 12 hours before the test. Follow instructions about stopping aspirin and other blood-thinning medicines before the test.
How the Test will Feel
The anesthetic spray makes it hard to swallow. This wears off shortly after the procedure. The scope may make you gag.
You may feel gas and the movement of the scope in your abdomen. You will not be able to feel the biopsy. Because of sedation, you may not feel any discomfort and have no memory of the test.
You may feel bloated from the air that was put into your body. This feeling soon wears off.
Why the Test is Performed
EGD may be done if you have symptoms that are new, cannot be explained, or are not responding to treatment, such as:
- Black or tarry stools or vomiting blood
Vomiting blood
Vomiting blood is regurgitating (throwing up) contents of the stomach that contains blood. Vomited blood may appear bright red, dark red, or look lik...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Bringing food back up (regurgitation)
- Feeling full sooner than normal or after eating less than usual
- Feeling like food is stuck behind the breastbone
- Heartburn
Heartburn
Heartburn is a painful burning feeling just below or behind the breastbone. Most of the time, it comes from the esophagus. The pain often rises in ...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Low blood count (anemia) that cannot be explained
Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen
- Swallowing problems or pain with swallowing
- Weight loss that cannot be explained
- Nausea or vomiting that does not go away
Your health care provider may also order this test if you:
- Have cirrhosis of the liver, to look for swollen veins (called varices) in the walls of the lower part of the esophagus, which may begin to bleed
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Have Crohn disease
Crohn disease
Crohn disease is a disease where parts of the digestive tract become inflamed. It most often involves the lower end of the small intestine and the be...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Need more follow-up or treatment for a condition that has been diagnosed
The test may also be used to take a piece of tissue for biopsy.
Normal Results
The esophagus, stomach, and duodenum should be smooth and of normal color. There should be no bleeding, growths, ulcers, or inflammation.
What Abnormal Results Mean
An abnormal EGD may be the result of:
- Celiac disease (damage to the lining of the small intestine from a reaction to eating gluten)
Celiac disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that damages the lining of the small intestine. This damage comes from a reaction to eating gluten. This ...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Esophageal varices (swollen veins in the lining of the esophagus caused by liver cirrhosis)
Liver cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Esophagitis (lining of the esophagus becomes inflamed or swollen)
Esophagitis
Esophagitis is a condition in which the lining of the esophagus becomes swollen, inflamed, or irritated. The esophagus is the tube that leads from y...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Gastritis (lining of the stomach and duodenum is inflamed or swollen)
Gastritis
Gastritis occurs when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed or swollen. Gastritis may last for only a short time (acute gastritis) or it may lin...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Gastroesophageal reflux disease (a condition in which food or liquid from the stomach leaks backward into the esophagus)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which the stomach contents leak backward from the stomach into the esophagus (food pipe). F...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Hiatal hernia (a condition in which part of the stomach sticks up into the chest through an opening in the diaphragm)
Hiatal hernia
Hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach extends through an opening of the diaphragm into the chest. The diaphragm is the sheet of ...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Mallory-Weiss syndrome (tear in the esophagus)
Mallory-Weiss syndrome
A Mallory-Weiss tear occurs in the mucous membrane of the lower part of the esophagus or upper part of the stomach, near where they join. The tear m...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Narrowing or stricture of the esophagus, such as from a condition called an esophageal ring
Esophageal ring
A lower esophageal ring is an abnormal ring of tissue that forms where the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach) and stomach meet....
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Tumors or cancer in the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum (first part of small intestine)
- Ulcers, gastric (stomach) or duodenal (small intestine)
Ulcers
A peptic ulcer is an open sore or raw area in the lining of the stomach or intestine. There are two types of peptic ulcers:Gastric ulcer -- occurs in...
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Risks
There is a small chance of a hole (perforation) in the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus from the scope moving through these areas. There is also a small risk of bleeding at the biopsy site.
You could have a reaction to the medicine used during the procedure, which could cause:
- Apnea (not breathing)
Apnea
Breathing that stops from any cause is called apnea. Slowed breathing is called bradypnea. Labored or difficult breathing is known as dyspnea....
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Difficulty breathing (respiratory depression)
Difficulty breathing
Breathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough air
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Excessive sweating
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
Hypotension
Low blood pressure occurs when blood pressure is much lower than normal. This means the heart, brain, and other parts of the body may not get enough...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
Bradycardia
An arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate (pulse) or heart rhythm. The heart can beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregul...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Spasm of the larynx (laryngospasm)
References
Koch MA, Zurad EG. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy. In: Fowler GC, ed. Pfenninger & Fowler's Procedures for Primary Care. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 91.
Sugumar A, Vargo JJ. Preparation for and complications of gastrointestinal endoscopy. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 42.
Gastric endoscopy - illustration
An endoscope is a flexible fiberoptic scope with a light that helps a physician see inside certain internal organs. When the scope is inserted through the mouth, the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and upper duodenum can be visually examined for any abnormalities or growths. A biopsy can be taken through the endoscope of any suspicious areas that are seen.
Gastric endoscopy
illustration
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) - illustration
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a test procedure to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine. The procedure uses an endoscope. This is a flexible tube with a light and camera at the end. A biopsy can be taken through the endoscope of any suspicious areas that are seen.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
illustration
Gastric endoscopy - illustration
An endoscope is a flexible fiberoptic scope with a light that helps a physician see inside certain internal organs. When the scope is inserted through the mouth, the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and upper duodenum can be visually examined for any abnormalities or growths. A biopsy can be taken through the endoscope of any suspicious areas that are seen.
Gastric endoscopy
illustration
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) - illustration
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a test procedure to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine. The procedure uses an endoscope. This is a flexible tube with a light and camera at the end. A biopsy can be taken through the endoscope of any suspicious areas that are seen.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
illustration
Review Date: 8/7/2023
Reviewed By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.