An upper endoscopy is a routine and commonly performed procedure, in which a highly trained doctor (called a gastroenterologist) inserts an endoscope (a flexible tube about the thickness of your finger that contains a miniature camera at the tip) into the mouth, down the esophagus, and into the stomach and duodenum (first portion of the small intestine), in order to carefully inspect the upper gastrointestinal tract. Patients are sedated and the procedure is typically painless. A typical upper endoscopy takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

To prepare for your upper endoscopy, there are a number of important steps you must take, including:

• If you are taking Coumadin^® (warfarin), Plavix^®, Lovenox^®, Aggrenox^®, Pradaxa^®, Effient^® or any other blood thinning medication, make sure you know if and when you are to stop these medications. Please contact your doctor today if you are unsure.
• You may not drive following the exam for the remainder of the day. You must arrange for transportation and have a driver, whom you know, pick you up following your exam. If you do not have someone to drive you home your procedure will be canceled. You may take a taxi or other non-medical hired service only if you are accompanied by a responsible adult.
• Your procedure will last approximately two hours from the time you arrive to the time you are released. You may confirm your release time with the facility at the time of arrival.

Four Days Before Exam

• Stop NSAIDs (ibuprofen, Motrin^®, Advil^®, Naprosyn^®, Aleve^®, Relafen^® and the like). You may continue to take a single aspirin (81 mg tablet) daily and/or Tylenol^®.

Day of Exam

The success of the exam is very dependent on your stomach being empty of food and fluid at the time of the examination. Please remember:

• No solid food after midnight.
• Midnight to six hours prior to your scheduled procedure start time: You may have full liquids. Full liquids include fruit smoothies, milkshakes and dairy.
• Midnight to three hours prior to your scheduled procedure start time: You may have clear liquid until three hours before your scheduled procedure start time. No red, orange or purple. No dairy. Clear liquids include water, tea, coffee, apple juice, Gatorade^®, Jell-O^®, bouillon, broth, consommé, ice pops and soda.
• Three hours prior to your scheduled procedure start time: Please stop all liquids at this time. You may not have anything by mouth.
• If you are diabetic, do not take your daily diabetic medication this morning.  All other medication may be continued, even on the morning of the examination.
• Wear loose comfortable clothing and a short-sleeved shirt.

The hardest part is over! After you arrive for your upper endoscopy, you will meet with a nurse who will talk to you about your medical history, start an IV so you can get fluids and get you settled. After you meet with your doctor, you will be given medication to sedate you and keep you comfortable during your procedure. You will recover after your procedure for about 30 minutes, and will be given a written report with instructions to take home.