Limitation and Side Effect of EGD
What Is an EGD?
An esophagogastroduodenoscopy
(EGD), often referred to as an upper endoscopy at Rowlett, is an invasive diagnostic test that
visualizes the esophagus, stomach, and upper portion of the small intestine. It
uses a fiberoptic endoscope, which is a flexible tube equipped with a camera.
The endoscope is passed down the throat to the regions of the upper intestinal
tract to provide a real-time video. An EGD can be used to obtain a biopsy or to
treat gastrointestinal conditions as well.
Limitations
An EGD does not visualize
the upper GI system from the outside and does not provide reliable information
about the lungs, liver, spleen, or other nearby organs.
Managing Side Effects
It is possible for a sore
throat to last for a few days after your EGD. This should improve gradually.
You can drink soothing fluids to ease the discomfort. If your discomfort lasts
for longer than a few days, if you experience worsening pain or trouble
swallowing, or if you observe swelling in the back of your throat, call your
doctor.
Interpreting Results
Your doctor will either
discuss the results with you immediately after your test or may schedule
another appointment to discuss the result and a plan, especially if your test
involved a biopsy. Often, when the doctor performing the test is not the doctor
who you regularly see, you need to come back to have this discussion.
Your doctor will determine
the outcome of your upper endoscopy at Rowlett based on what he or she saw
during the test. An EGD can help diagnose several problems based on the
appearance of the inner lining of the gastrointestinal tract and any anatomical
variations seen on the exam.
Conditions that may be
diagnosed with the aid of EGD include:
·
Narrowing
of areas of the GI tract
·
Ulcerations
·
Hiatal
hernia
·
Enlarged
blood vessels and esophageal varices
·
Inflammation
·
Conditions
such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease
·
Infections
·
Cancer
Follow-Up
Depending on your test
results, you may need to have treatment for a medical problem. For example, an
infection may require treatment with antibiotics, while esophageal varices may
require an interventional procedure to prevent the blood vessels from bleeding.
A tumor may require removal, as well as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
In general, you should not
need to have EGD procedures routinely repeated, but if your symptoms
unexpectedly worsen, or if you develop new symptoms, your doctors may want you
to have another EGD to investigate the cause.
A Word From Verywell
An EGD is generally well
tolerated and is not painful. However, it is an invasive test and requires
sedation.
Most gastrointestinal
conditions can be treated, either medically or surgically. Some chronic
gastrointestinal problems require long-term treatment. If you have an EGD for
treatment of a gastrointestinal condition, your recovery should be relatively
quick.
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