For patients: Is it possible to drink water before FGDS?

One day before…

Usually, on the evening before the study, the last dinner is at 18-00 without meat products and cottage cheese. The water regime can be maintained until going to bed, but no later than 23-00.

If you suspect difficulty in evacuation of food from the stomach (heaviness after eating, airy belching with a rotten smell, the presence of high sugars in diabetes mellitus, etc.), it may be necessary to spend the day before gastroscopy with liquid nutrition (juices, broths, mousses, sweet tea, compote ). When preparing for gastroscopy, milk and kefir are prohibited, because these products curdle and turn from liquid to a pasty consistency. Coffee is also prohibited in case of evacuation disorders, since, with slow peristalsis, it, remaining in the stomach, will provoke the doctor to think about bleeding (hemoglobin reacting with gastric juice takes on a cinnamon-like appearance, called hematin, described as “coffee-colored liquid”) .

What diet should you follow before gastroscopy?

Typically, a doctor prescribes an examination such as FGDS for various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (including ulcers, duodenitis, gastritis) or for suspected diseases. Also, an endoscopic examination can be prescribed if the patient has frequent pain and heaviness in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, regular belching or persistent heartburn. Preparation for gastroscopy and timely testing are necessary to obtain accurate diagnostic results.

Contraindications

FGDS is done on the direction of the attending physician. Subsequent examination is carried out by an endoscopist. Even if there are indications for examination, the procedure can be canceled or replaced with another in a number of cases:

• an attack of epilepsy or bronchial asthma;
• pregnancy;
• serious problems with blood circulation;
• diseases of the esophagus that may cause difficulties when inserting the examination device (for example, burns, etc.).

These contraindications are absolute. There is also a group of relative contraindications:

• hypertensive crisis;
• acute cardiac or respiratory failure;
• aortic aneurysm;
• esophageal diverticulum;
• problems with the nasopharynx that cause difficulty breathing.

In these situations, the specialist decides whether it is advisable to conduct an endoscopic examination. In any case, the examination is done solely with the voluntary consent of the patient.

Preparation for gastroscopy of the stomach

1. 1. Clinical (general) blood test. Allows you to detect internal inflammation in the patient’s body, anemia, and see an increased risk of bleeding when examined with a gastroscope.
2. 2. Biochemical blood test. Allows you to confirm or refute the presence of internal inflammation in the body, detect infectious diseases (hepatitis B, C) and HIV infection.
3. 3. General urine analysis.

In some cases, additional tests may be recommended.
Timely examination of the patient’s blood and urine allows us to detect contraindications to FGDS, which may have been previously unknown. Taking tests allows you to prevent possible negative consequences of the examination.

Remember that before the test you need to tell your doctor if you are taking any medications on an ongoing basis - some of them will need to be stopped.

Proper diet before gastroscopy

Preparing for the study is very simple - you need to start with nutrition. It is worth paying attention to your diet as early as possible.

At least two days before the procedure, you should exclude the following products:

• fatty and fried foods;
• seeds and nuts;
• chocolate;
• mayonnaise;
• foods rich in fiber;
• whole wheat bread;
• various cheeses.

You should also avoid alcohol - it will provoke a strong gag reflex.
On the eve of the test, reap light and healthy foods (for example, mashed potatoes and low-fat chicken cutlets are suitable). It is advisable that dinner be no later than six o'clock in the evening.

Preparation for gastroscopy of the stomach in the morning on the day of examination consists of completely eliminating food and any drinks. You are allowed to drink about one glass of water no later than three hours before the start of the procedure. Smokers are advised to abstain from cigarettes.

On the day of the study

In the morning on the day of the examination, in preparation for gastroscopy, do not drink, do not eat, do not smoke, brush your teeth without toothpaste, do not chew gum. The tablets you usually take should not be taken unless specifically directed by your doctor. All tablet preparations contain so-called fillers, such as chalk, which give the tablet its shape. When it comes into contact with the gastric mucosa, this filler swells and spreads over almost all parts of the stomach in the form of white smears, which will complicate a precise examination of the gastric mucosa or can even imitate erosive lesions of the mucosa. Therefore, regarding the morning intake of tablet drugs in preparation for gastroscopy, additionally consult with your doctor or endoscopist. Patients with bronchial asthma take an inhaler with them. Patients with diabetes are allowed, if necessary, sugar under the tongue.

On the day of the test, you can rinse your mouth with water.

If the examination is scheduled for the afternoon (after 13:00), then in the morning on the day of the examination (about 6:00) a light breakfast is allowed:

• yogurt or a piece of bread;
• drinks (tea, water, including mineral water) can be consumed in a volume of up to 100 ml no later than 3 hours before the procedure.

What can you eat?

The day before the examination, you should follow a dietary regime. It may include the following products:

• mashed potatoes;
• buckwheat;
• oatmeal;
• cheese;
• boiled chicken;
• various soups;
• juices – fruit and vegetable.

What can't you eat?

The day before the procedure (in particular, in the evening), you should avoid fatty foods. These include:

• meat;
• mayonnaise;
• cheese;
• fatty fish.

Smoking is prohibited on the day of the planned gastroscopy!

What to do with the medications you take?

In case of long-term treatment, medications can be taken early in the morning before the procedure and washed down with a small amount of water. If you are unsure about taking medications correctly, consult your doctor.

Patients with diabetes should tell their doctor about their condition. They will have a gastroscopy in the morning on an empty stomach. Medicines for the treatment of diabetes can be taken half an hour after the examination, when you are allowed to eat. You can take food with you.

If the patient receives a sedative injection, he must be under medical supervision for 2 hours. It is extremely undesirable for him to remain unattended for 24 hours; riding a bicycle, driving a car, or performing other activities that require increased attention are prohibited. Due to these factors, the patient must be provided with transportation home.

Patients taking medications that affect blood clotting, such as Warfarin (Lavarin), Clopidogrel (Plavix, Trombex), Prasugrel (Efient) and other anticoagulants should inform your doctor about this. In the case of a planned gastroscopy procedure, it will be necessary to stop taking Warfarin at least a week before the scheduled date and, if necessary, replace it with low molecular weight heparin. You should consult your doctor about this. In addition, the day before the examination, blood samples should be taken to assess blood clotting.

How to improve your preparation?

To improve examination of the mucous membrane, foaming should be minimized. To do this, 60 minutes before the test, you need to drink 5 ml of semiticone emulsion in a small amount of liquid (no more than 50 ml).

Preparation for gastroscopy under anesthesia

If you are planning examinations with sedation or anesthesia, it is strictly necessary to be on an empty stomach and not drink water for at least 3 hours before the examination. Features of preparation for gastroscopy are given above.

Tests for anesthesia (the need is determined by the anesthesiologist and the corporate requirements of the clinic; the Ministry of Health does not regulate the availability of these tests before endoscopic examination):

1. HIV
2. Hepatitis B and C
3. Syphilis
4. ECG (not more than 10 days old)

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TagsGastroscopy Health Endoscopy

How to prepare for gastroscopy

In order for gastroscopy to be as effective as possible and give reliable results, it is very important to properly prepare for the procedure. Of course, it is ideal to learn about the rules of preparation for gastroscopy from the endoscopist himself. But it is not always possible to visit a doctor in advance. And there are a lot of questions about preparation. For example,

what should not be done before gastroscopy?

• Is it possible to smoke before gastroscopy?
• Is it possible to brush your teeth before gastroscopy?
• Is it possible to eat before the procedure or is gastroscopy done on an empty stomach?
• How to properly prepare for gastroscopy at home?

We will try to answer all these questions in this article, dedicated to the algorithm for preparing for the gastroscopy procedure. This study requires advance preparation. Let's dwell on its most basic points.

How to properly prepare for gastroscopy at home?

Preparation for gastroscopy is divided into general and immediate. There are peculiarities in preparation scheduled in the morning and preparation scheduled in the afternoon.

General preparation of the patient for gastroscopy, scheduled in the morning or afternoon.

The general preparation for the procedure at home (as well as in a hospital setting) is the same in both the first (preparation for the morning procedure) and the second (preparation for gastroscopy scheduled in the afternoon) case.

A reminder for preparing for the gastroscopy procedure at home

1. Taking tests before the study. Usually these are general blood and urine tests, identifying blood clotting indicators, and an ECG.
2. A patient taking medications that slow down blood clotting should consult his doctor approximately two weeks before gastroscopy. He must find out whether they need to be canceled, and if so, when (how long before the study). Typically, your doctor will stop these medications to reduce the risk of internal bleeding. But the patient may need to adjust the treatment regimen.
3. If the patient suffers from diabetes, he must notify the doctor about this in advance. The doctor may prescribe a temporarily lower dosage, and a gastroscopy will be scheduled for the morning. Half an hour after the examination, the patient can already have a snack, so it is advisable to bring food with you
4. If you are pregnant, you must inform your doctor.
5. If an x-ray was taken before gastroscopy using barium as a contrast agent, the procedure should be postponed for several days. Barium is usually cleared from the digestive tract within 1-2 days.
6. Before the study, it is necessary to clarify what kind of anesthesia will be used. If you are allergic to the anesthetic, you must inform your doctor.
7. The doctor should know about all manifestations of allergies in the anamnesis (preferably not only in the patient, but also in close relatives).
8. If you have serious concomitant diseases (respiratory failure, aortic aneurysm, epilepsy, recent stroke, heart failure), you must inform your doctor.
9. 2 days before the test, exclude fatty and spicy foods, mayonnaise, ketchup, canned food and smoked meats. The diet during preparation for gastroscopy is described in the corresponding article.
10. The day before the test, you should avoid physical activity.

Direct preparation of the patient for gastroscopy, scheduled in the morning.

1. You cannot take tablets or capsules on the day of the test.
2. If the patient has removable dentures, he should take a container for them with him, since they will need to be removed before the procedure.
3. You must come to the examination on an empty stomach. Eating should be no later than 8 hours before the test (for children), and for adults – preferably 12 hours. During this time, the contents of the stomach are completely evacuated, and the doctor can carefully and without difficulty examine the mucous membrane.
4. You can take a towel and wet wipes with you.
5. Make sure you wear comfortable clothes. It should not hinder movement and should not be a brand. Avoid jewelry, chains, and bracelets. Men should not wear ties or tight belts. Before the examination, you need to remove your glasses and contact lenses, unfasten your collar and belt. Don't wear cologne or perfume.
6. Before the procedure, it is advisable to empty the bladder (for the patient’s comfort).

Direct preparation for gastroscopy in the afternoon.

Preparation for a gastroscopy scheduled in the second half is practically no different from the preparation scheduled in the morning. But in this case, a light breakfast is allowed 8-9 hours before the study.

How to properly prepare for gastroscopy mentally?

Inserting an endoscope into the stomach is still stressful for the body. A calm state and the right attitude are very important. The doctor usually explains the need for the procedure and talks about the progress of the study. If the patient is psychologically prepared, he will not worry or be nervous. Modern endoscopes have made checking the stomach a painless procedure. Even a biopsy (taking samples of the mucous membrane) does not cause negative feelings. Patients are sometimes nervous that they will not be able to breathe due to the endoscope being in the throat. But the endoscope is so thin that it does not interfere with the flow of air into the lungs. During the procedure, when the first signs of panic appear, you need to calm yourself and take a few deep breaths. The more relaxed the patient is, the faster the procedure will go. If the anxiety is so strong that it interferes with the procedure, the doctor may recommend medicated sleep. If anesthesia will be used during the study, accompanying persons are required. The patient should not drive.

What should you not do before a gastroscopy?

The most typical questions about preparing for gastroscopy.

• Is it possible to smoke before gastroscopy?

You should not smoke before the procedure, as nicotine stimulates the production of gastric juice, thus complicating the procedure. Smoking is strictly prohibited at least 3 hours before the test.

• Is it possible to brush your teeth before gastroscopy?

You cannot brush your teeth before the examination. In addition to examining the mucous membrane, the doctor can also measure the acidity of gastric juice. In this case, even drinking water, not just brushing your teeth, can change the acidity. Therefore, to be sure of the correct diagnosis, brushing your teeth before gastroscopy is not recommended.

Conclusion.

Proper preparation before gastroscopy is important. It begins in advance; a consultation with a doctor is advisable, who will give individual recommendations taking into account the state of the body and the patient’s psychotype.