What is an endoscopy (gastroscopy or OGD)?

It is an examination of your oesophagus (gullet), stomach and duodenum (the first part of the bowel beyond the stomach). A thin flexible tube is passed through the mouth into the stomach. The test is performed as a day-case under light sedation or local anaesthetic sprayed on the back of the throat. The test is very quick and much easier than might be thought. It is important that you have nothing to eat or drink for at least4 hours before the test. You may take your regular medications but should inform Dr Pollok if you are on blood thinning medicines. The test helps to diagnose acid reflux or oesophagitis, hiatus hernia, gastric or duodenal ulcer disease, Barrett’s oesophagus, coeliac disease and less common conditions including oesophageal and stomach cancer.

Gastroscopy or upper GI endoscopy or OGD (short for oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy) procedure code G6500