gastroscopy

Gastroscopy

Looking into the stomach with a flexible viewing instrument called a gastroscope.

Mentioned in: Duodenal Obstruction

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gastroscopy

[gastros′kəpē]

the visual inspection of the interior of the stomach by means of a gastroscope inserted through the esophagus. The flexible fiberoptic gastroscope increases the visualization of the prepyloric antrum, but the fundus is still not visible. See also endoscopy, fiberoptics. gastroscopic, adj.

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gastroscopy [gas-tros´kah-pe]

inspection of the interior of the stomach with a gastroscope.

Patient Care. For 6 to 8 hours prior to the examination the patient is not allowed to take any food or liquids by mouth. The stomach should be empty during the procedure to facilitate inspection of its lining and to avoid vomiting and aspiration of liquids into the lungs.

A sedative is given 30 minutes to 1 hour before the examination. The patient is awake during the procedure, which is not painful but is uncomfortable and exhausting. The sedatives help relieve apprehension and fear so that the patient can be more cooperative during the examination.

A local anesthetic such as cocaine or tetracaine (Pontocaine) is sprayed on the posterior pharynx to depress the gag reflex and reduce local reaction to the passage of the gastroscope. The patient is watched for toxic reaction to these drugs, and an emergency tray containing an airway, barbiturates, and epinephrine must be readily available.

After the procedure is completed the patient should be provided with rest and an opportunity to sleep. Foods and liquids are withheld until the gag reflex returns (usually about 4 hours). During the first two hours after gastroscopy the patient's vital signs should be checked periodically, especially if biopsies have been taken during the procedure and there is danger of bleeding.

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gastroscopy,

n the visual inspection of the interior of the stomach by means of a flexible fiberoptic tube inserted through the oral cavity and passing the length of the esophagus into the stomach.

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gastroscopy

inspection of the interior of the stomach with a gastroscope.

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gastroscopy

Gastric endoscopy GI disease An internal examination of the stomach using a gastroscope passed through the mouth and esophagus