What about my current medications or allergies?

Tell your doctor in advance of the procedure about all medications that you're taking and about any allergies you have to medication. He or she will tell you whether or not you can continue to take your medication as usual before the examination. In general, you can safely take aspirin and similar blood thinning medications before an examination, but it's always best to discuss their use with your doctor. Usually, essential medications can be taken on the procedure morning with only a small cup of water.

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If you have an allergy to latex you should inform your doctor prior to your test. Patients with latex allergies often require a change of equipment and we must know before hand.

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Do I need to take antibiotics?

Antibiotics aren't generally required before or after examinations. Tell your doctor if you take antibiotics before dental procedures. If your doctor feels you need antibiotics, antibiotics might be ordered during the examination or after the procedure to help prevent an infection. Again, tell your doctor about any allergies to medications.

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Should I arrange for help after the examination?

You won't be allowed to drive after the procedure, even if you don't feel tired. You should arrange for an escort home. You should also plan to have someone stay with you at home after the examination, because the sedatives could affect your judgment and reflexes for the rest of the day.

 

 

What can I expect during enteroscopy?

For an examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract, your endoscopist might spray your throat with a local anesthetic before the test begins. You will receive sedatives intravenously to help you relax. You will most likely begin by lying on your left side. After you receive sedatives, your endoscopist will pass the scope through your mouth, esophagus and stomach into the duodenum and small bowel. The instrument does not interfere with your ability to breathe. The actual examination generally takes up to 60 minutes. Most patients consider it only slightly uncomfortable. The retrograde approach is similar to colonoscopy where the colon is examined and then the scope is inserted into the small bowel where progress is then made up the small bowel. This can be difficult and overall success may be only 80-90% as difficult loops and angles make upstream progress too difficult.

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What happens after enteroscopy?

You will be monitored in the recovery area until most of the sedative medication's effects have worn off. If you had an upper procedure, your throat might be sore. You might feel bloated because of the air and water that were introduced during the examination. You'll be able to eat after you leave the procedure area, unless you're instructed otherwise.

Your doctor generally can inform you of the results of the procedure that day, but the results of some tests will take longer.

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What are the possible complications of enteroscopy?

Although complications can occur, they are not common. The chances for any complication are less than 1%. The chances of a major complication are less than 0.5% or 1 in 200. For the oral approach you will have a sore throat for a day or more. Pain is unlikely and serious problems like pancreatitis or perforation will cause pain and should be reported to the doctor ASAP. In rare situations surgery may be required to repair a perforation. Other potential, but uncommon, risks of EUS include a reaction to the sedatives used; backwash of stomach contents into your lungs; infection; and complications from heart or lung diseases.

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In recent years new resistant bugs can grow in these endoscopes and infections can be introduced into patients and these infectious can be very severe. Australian cleaning standards are high and cross infection is rare.