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Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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The goals of esophagogastroduodenoscopy are to detect lesions of the mucous membranes of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum in acute and chronic infectious diseases, other diseases or complications. Carrying out therapeutic measures. Evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment.
Indications for esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Planned EGDS is indicated:
- if there is a suspicion of damage to the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum;
- to assess the effectiveness of treatment;
- to carry out medical procedures;
- to correct the therapy being carried out.
Emergency EGDS is indicated:
- in case of bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract;
- if there is a suspicion of perforation of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum;
- if there is a suspicion of the presence of a foreign body in the upper gastrointestinal tract;
- in case of esophageal stenosis to insert a tube into the stomach for feeding purposes;
- for differential diagnosis of gastric diseases and acute surgical diseases.
Contraindications for esophagogastroduodenoscopy
There are no absolute contraindications to EGDS.
Esophageal diseases that make it impossible to pass an endoscope into the stomach or that pose an increased risk of perforation (esophageal burn, cicatricial stricture, aortic aneurysm, etc.). When using modern endoscopes, the risk is lower, but not excluded. A relative contraindication is the general severe condition of the patient due to the underlying or concomitant disease that poses a direct threat to the patient's life.
Preparation for esophagogastroduodenoscopy examination
The night before, have a light dinner (excluding foods that promote gas formation - milk, fruits, vegetables).
If there is no stool for 3 days or more before the examination, it is necessary to do a cleansing enema.
The study is carried out strictly on an empty stomach.
The patient should be explained the principle of this method and the stages of the study; it should be determined whether the patient has an allergy to the drugs that are supposed to be used for pain relief.
Methodology of esophagogastroduodenoscopy research
EGDS is performed using the generally accepted method.
Equipment - fibrogastroscope (gastrofibroscope, gastroscope, fibroscope) - an endoscope with flexible fiber optics.
Evaluation of the result
EGDS allows for differential diagnosis with jaundice of non-infectious etiology, oncological processes in the upper gastrointestinal tract, to clarify the nature of lesions in HIV infection (esophageal candidiasis, lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma), opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis, helicobacteriosis and other infectious and parasitic diseases, to identify varicose veins in liver cirrhosis of viral etiology.
Complications
The use of a fibrogastroscope ensures practical safety of the examination. However, if the examination technique is violated, damage to the walls of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum and even their perforation are possible. In these cases, emergency surgical intervention is necessary.
The most common complications are general ones, caused by intolerance to the drugs used for premedication and anesthesia. Sometimes bleeding occurs after a mucosal biopsy or after a polypectomy, removal of a foreign body, which does not require surgical intervention.
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