Gastroscopy

Mr Marshall carries out endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract (gastroscopy). Gastroscopy is a very useful investigation for symptoms such as heartburn, difficulty swallowing, the sensation of a lump in the throat, indigestion, upper abdominal pain, excessive belching and weight loss. Conditions such as ulcers, inflammation of the stomach or oesophageal, infection with Helicobacter Pylori and hiatus hernias can all be easily diagnosed using gastroscopy. A narrowing of the oesophagus causing swallowing difficulty can also be treated by dilating (stretching) the narrowing using a balloon.

Gastroscopy can either be carried out under local anaesthetic throat spray with the patient awake, or under sedation. If carried out under sedation, the patient should spend the remainder of the day resting and should not drive themselves home from the hospital.