Preparation for Gastroscopy

Oesophagogastroscopy (shorter – Gastroscopy) is an endoscopic method, by means of which a doctor examines Your oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. The examination is done using a narrow, flexible, pipe-like instrument, called endoscope. Endoscope is inserted through the mouth, passes the oesophagus and continues towards the stomach and duodenum. To get the best results from the test, Your stomach should be entirely empty. At the day of examination, You are required to stay with empty stomach if the testing is done in morning hours, meaning that You are forbidden to take any food or drink. If the testing is carried out in afternoon hours, You are required to refrain from eating 6 hours prior to testing and take only a light breakfast in the morning. At the day of testing, refrain from chewing bubble gums or eating bombons. Patients taking the anticoagulants (medications against blood clotting, such as Warfarin, Marivarin, Martefarin ...) should consult their doctor concerning the necessity and possibility to skip the medication before the gastroscopy. Generally, if only the gastroscopy with or without biopsy is planned, it is not necessary to skip Martefarin before the gastroscopy if the values of PV_INR measured not more than seven days before the gastroscopy stay inside the therapeutic range. We advice patients to undergo PV_INR testing 1-2 days before the gastroscopy and present the results to their gastroenterologist who will estimate if the testing is possible. At the day of testing, it would be preferrable not to takeany antiaggregation therapy. Patients taking the preparations of acetyl-syalicilate (Andol, Aspirin, Acisal) and/or clopidogrel (Zyllt, Pigrel ...) should consult their physicians about the necessity of omitting one or both medications before the gastroscopy. Generally, if only the gastroscopy with or without biopsy is planned, it is not necessary to skip Aspirin or Clopidogrel before the gastroscopy.

Patients taking antirheumatics should stop using them 5 days before the testing, if possible.

Patients suffering from the cardiac valvular disease should, in some cases, take antibiotic before the gastroscopy, which also requires a consultation witheir physician If jusr gastroscopy is planned, with no endoscopic interventions, the antimicrobial prophylaxis is not required.

Diabetics: Insulin and antidiabetic oral therapy are mostly not to be taken at the day of testing, but that should also be discussed with the personal physican.

Other prescribed therapy (cardiac, antihypertensives, etc.) can be taken in the morning together with a glass of water.

Before the gastroscopy, it is obligatory to inform the attending gastroenterologist about diseases You suffer from and also about the types of drugs and herbal medications that You take.

The entire previous medical documentation should be collected.

FOR GASTROSCOPY WITH ANAESTHESIA, IT IS NECESSARY TO PREPARE:

1. Laboratory tests: CBC, Na, K, blood glucose, PV. APTV, fibrinogen, biochemical urine testing
2. ECG
3. All the previous medical documentation
4. Don’t take anything orally during the last 6 hours before the testing.

You will be examined by gastroenterologist (anaesthesiologist) right before the procedure itself, so its is necessary to inform him about the diseases You have suffered from and types of drugs/herbal medications that You have taken.