On this page
At a glance
- Also called EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy).
- It is the first test recommended for trouble swallowing, bleeding, weight loss, or anemia.
- It is usually done with sedation, so you’ll need someone to drive you home.
- Serious complications are uncommon.
What endoscopy shows
A thin, flexible tube with a light and camera is passed through the mouth into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. In a reflux or swallowing evaluation, endoscopy can show:
- Inflammation from reflux (esophagitis), graded A (mild) to D (severe) using the Los Angeles classification
- Barrett’s esophagus, a change in the lining that is confirmed with biopsies — see Barrett’s esophagus
- A hiatal hernia, including its approximate size and how well the valve closes around the scope
- Narrowing (stricture), rings, or webs that can cause food to stick
- Signs of eosinophilic esophagitis, which requires biopsies to diagnose
- Retained food or a tight lower sphincter, clues that can point toward achalasia
Current guidance recommends that a standard reflux endoscopy report include the inflammation grade, the size of any hiatal hernia, the appearance of the valve, and a description of any Barrett’s esophagus, with biopsies when indicated.
Preparing
You’ll be asked not to eat or drink for a period before the procedure so the stomach is empty. Tell the team about blood thinners, diabetes medicines (including weekly injectable medicines such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which can slow stomach emptying), and any heart, lung, or sleep-apnea conditions. Instructions about reflux medication depend on why the test is being done.
During and after
Most people receive sedation through an IV and remember little of the procedure itself. The endoscopy usually takes a short time, though the whole visit — check-in, sedation, and recovery — takes longer. Afterward, a mild sore throat or bloating is common and passes quickly. Because of the sedation, you’ll need a responsible adult to drive you home, and you shouldn’t drive or make important decisions for the rest of the day.
Risks
Upper endoscopy is a common and generally safe procedure. The main risks — a reaction to sedation, bleeding (more likely if biopsies or treatments are done), and a tear or perforation — are uncommon. Your care team will review risks specific to your situation.
When endoscopy is combined with a treatment — such as widening a narrow area, placing a Bravo pH capsule, or ablating Barrett’s tissue — the risks of that treatment are discussed separately.
Common questions
What happens during an upper endoscopy, and how soon can I go home?
You’re usually sedated while a thin camera examines your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum; the procedure itself is brief, and most people go home the same day once recovered from sedation, with someone else driving.
You’ll arrive with an empty stomach, have an IV placed, and receive sedation. The endoscope is passed through a mouth guard; you breathe normally throughout. Biopsies, if taken, are painless.
In recovery, you may feel bloated from air used to open the stomach, and your throat may be a little sore. Most people eat soon afterward. Because sedation affects judgment and reflexes, plan to have a responsible adult take you home and to avoid driving or signing important documents for the rest of the day. Biopsy results usually take several days.
Sources
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Upper GI Endoscopy.
- Katz PO, et al. ACG Clinical Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of GERD. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022;117(1):27–56.
- Yadlapati R, et al. AGA Clinical Practice Update on the Personalized Approach to the Evaluation and Management of GERD. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;20(5):984–994.
- Ben-Menachem T, et al. (ASGE Standards of Practice Committee). Adverse events of upper GI endoscopy. Gastrointest Endosc. 2012;76(4):707–718.
This page is general education. It can’t account for your history, test results, or other conditions, so please discuss your situation with your own clinician.