What is an Upper GI Endoscopy (EGD)

An EGD is often recommended to evaluate symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, black or tarry stools, suspected ulcers, or unexplained gastrointestinal discomfort. This routine procedure is performed under sedation to ensure your comfort and is conducted at our Mesa GI clinic.

The upper gastrointestinal tract starts with the mouth and continues with the esophagus (food pipe) which carries food to the stomach. Your stomach secretes a powerful acid and mixes food into small particles. The food particles enter the duodenum, or small bowel, where bile from the liver and digestive fluid from the pancreas mix to help the digestive process.

If you believe you need an Upper GI Endoscopy in Mesa, AZ then contact us to request a consultation.

The upper GI tract is the site of many disorders due to factors related to your diet, environment, inherited traits, and infection. An Upper GI Endoscopy helps diagnose, and often treat these conditions and/or symptoms:

• Ulcers, which can develop in the esophagus, stomach or duodenum and occasionally can be malignant
• Tumors of the stomach or esophagus
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Upper abdominal pain or indigestion
• Intestinal bleeding, hidden or massive bleeding can occur for various reasons
• Esophagitis and heartburn, chronic inflammation of the esophagus due to a backup of stomach acid and digestive fluids
• Gastritis, inflammation of the lining of the stomach

If you are diagnosed with or struggling with any of these symptoms or conditions, then an upper GI Endoscopy at Mesa GI may help you. Our providers at Mesa GI perform this procedure routinely to help patients just like you. Some of the primary advantages of an EGD include:

• It is usually a quick, safe, and efficient procedure
• Allows for polyp removal, the biopsy of tissues, and other small procedures
• Helps in detecting multiple digestive conditions (such as GI infections, Crohn’s disease, GERD, celiac disease, and others)
• Can help diagnose the causes of symptoms, such as heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and pain

• Don’t eat or drink anything for at least eight hours before the exam.
• Your physician will provide instructions about the use of regular medications, including blood thinners and high blood pressure medications.
• Have someone accompany you to the examination. You will be given medications to sedate you during the procedure, and you will need someone to drive you home.
• Driving is not allowed after the procedure. Even though you may not feel tired, your judgment and reflexes may not be normal.
• An Upper GI endoscopy is usually performed as an outpatient procedure.
• Intravenous sedation is typically given to relax you, depress your gag reflex, and even cause short-term amnesia.
  • For those who can relax on their own and whose gagging can be controlled, the exam is done without intravenous medications.
  • For others, deep sedation, where the patient is completely asleep, is utilized.