When and why

This is usually carried out when symptoms suggest a problem in the gullet (oesophagus), stomach or first part of the small bowel (duodenum). It may, therefore, be one of the investigations to find out the cause of stomach pains, difficulty with swallowing or suspected bleeding from the gut, nausea and vomiting, anorexia, malabsorption and weight loss.

An endoscope is a flexible tube containing optical fibres which allows the doctor to see inside as the scope is passed down through the gullet and into the stomach. The test can be carried out as an outpatient without the need to be admitted to hospital.

The patient needs to fast for 12 hours prior to the procedure to ensure the stomach is empty and to prevent vomiting. An intravenous sedative is often given, so although the test sounds unpleasant afterwards the individual has little memory of the procedure.

How it will help

In the presence of symptoms it can help to diagnose Candida or CMV infection in the oesophagus, duodenal ulcers and lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma. It is also used for diagnosing small bowel infections such as Cryptosporidium, Microsporidium and MAI.