What can and can not be done before a gastroscopy?
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Gastroscopy is a kind of medical research, consisting in examining the upper sections of the gastrointestinal tract with the help of a special light-transmitting endoscope device.
Gastroscopy is prescribed in cases when the patient feels discomfort in the abdomen. Complaints can be pain, vomiting, nausea, discomfort in the epigastric region, bloating, flatulence. Also, belching with high acidity, a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, coughing or vomiting with blood. The gastroscopy helps to identify at the initial stages of tumor diseases.
Recommendations for gastroscopy
- the procedure is performed on an empty stomach;
- one must adhere to dietary nutrition and exclude heavy food from the diet;
- it is necessary to notify the doctor about all your diseases, allergic reactions, therapeutic therapy, if any. This information will help you diagnose correctly, prescribe the best treatment;
- Smoking before gastroscopy is prohibited. This is due to the fact that nicotine acts on the secretion of gastric juice, which creates difficulties during manipulation.
- remove dentures and everything that you can give discomfort;
- the most important thing is to tune in to a good mood and try to relax, otherwise a gastroscopy will cause more discomfort;
- brushing your teeth before the test is not advised, because in this case there is a reflex release of the juice in the stomach and its acid may change, which is highly discouraged;
- if the patient does not come out to comply with all the recommendations of a doctor, and he used food less than 6-8 hours for gastroscopy, you need to transfer the manipulation. After all, because of the violation of this advice, you can get false results of the examination, which makes it difficult to diagnose the diagnosis correctly.
Read more about how to prepare before a gastroscopy here: /health/preparation-stomach-gastroscopy-what-can-and-can-not-be-eaten-diet_128196i15993.html
What tests are given before a gastroscopy?
- general blood analysis;
- blood chemistry;
- general urine analysis;
- determination of the blood group and Rh factor;
- the determination of hepatitis B and C antigens in the blood;
- blood test for RW, HIV;
- ECG.
Drinking before gastroscopy
The use of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited if you are registered for the procedure of gastroscopy. Strong tea, sweet fizzy or coffee drinks should also be deleted from your diet a couple of days before this medical manipulation. The day before the gastroscopy, it is allowed to take non-carbonated water, fruit home compotes, jars. It is allowed to drink lightly brewed tea, but in limited quantities. You can use clean water without gas. The final reception of the liquid is no later than three hours before the start of the manipulation. At the same time, the amount of water drunk should not exceed 100 ml.
Eating before a gastroscopy
When planning this procedure, you need to make the last meal so that six to eight hours remain before the test, because it is performed in the state of fasting. You can eat food that is easily digested, dishes should be at room temperature, small portions. If you use anesthesia, it is better to follow security measures and eat for 10-12 hours. At morning gastroscopy, it is authorized to accept meal till six o'clock in the evening on the eve, but choosing for a supper only easily assimilated production. If manipulation is scheduled for the afternoon, a light snack is allowed in the morning. The presence of food in the stomach can cause incorrect diagnosis, since it is difficult to examine the mucous membrane of the digestive system. To come to the procedure with an empty stomach is necessary in order that the vomiting reflex does not work when the endoscope is inserted into the throat, the vomiting of the vomit that could block the flow of oxygen was not provoked.
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Diet before gastroscopy
Food that must be excluded from the diet:
Before a gastroscopy do not prescribe a specific rigid diet, it is recommended to limit the use of some products. Their list includes food that can cause flatulence or bloating, affecting the change in acid-base balance in the stomach.
For two days before gastroscopy, it is necessary to limit the consumption of fried, smoked, spicy food so that there is no inadequate stomach reaction to such food. Also, you can not eat fast food, pickles and pickled products, mushrooms, a variety of seasonings and sauce pastes, canned goods, nuts and seeds.
24 hours before the study, you need to exclude from the daily menu whole grains, legumes, dairy products, including milk, fatty cottage cheese, kefir, too cold or hot food, which can irritate the nerve endings in the digestive tract, pasta, borsch, meat dishes, tomatoes and citrus fruits.
The list of products included in the patient's menu the day before the gastroscopy:
- boiled potatoes;
- porridge: buckwheat or oat-flakes;
- Vegetarian soup without ingredients that can be fried;
- Cutlets for steamed, from white poultry meat;
- dried white bread;
- eggs boiled soft-boiled;
- low-fat fish dishes;
- baked or boiled vegetables and fruits;
- low-fat sour cream, kefir;
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Medications for gastroscopy
Before proceeding to medical manipulation, anesthesia of the root of the tongue is carried out with the help of an anesthetic. Subsequently, the muscles of the pharynx relax and the likelihood of a vomiting reflex decreases.
At the beginning of a gastroscopy or the day before, a patient may be given a dose of sedative - this depresses pain and discomfort.
Espumizan is taken in order to reduce the amount of gases in the stomach, get rid of swelling, reduce the formation of gases in the upper organs of the digestive tract. This drug is prescribed 2 capsules 3 times a day for two days before the operation itself.
Omez acts on the secretion of gastric juice, reducing it.
De-nol - a drug that has enveloping, anti-inflammatory, astringent, bactericidal abilities. He is a part of therapeutic therapy
Peptic ulcer of stomach and duodenum, chronic gastritis. It is recommended to stop taking anti-inflammatory drugs one week before the planned gastroscopy. If you have been treated before, applying de-nol, it is necessary to notify your doctor about it.
Gaviscon - a drug from the group of antacids, is prescribed for complaints of discomfort in the upper parts of the digestive system. It is used to relieve the "acid reflux", when the contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus. Reception of various antacid medicines is prohibited a week before the study.
Planning the procedure for gastroscopy, includes the end of the course of antibiotics 2 weeks before it.
De-nol, Gaviscon, antibiotics are medicines that can be prescribed after a gastroscopy, because they are part of therapeutic drugs to combat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.