Pre-operative assessment
This usually takes place after you have been admitted to the hospital. I will ask you about your health and previous experiences with anaesthesia.
Anaesthesia
Endoscopy of the oesophagus, stomach and colon are common procedures used to diagnose and treat a range of disorders. Intravenous sedation is used to reduce anxiety, minimise pain and discomfort during the endoscopy. You will have minimal or no awareness or recall of the procedure. I will insert a cannula into your vein and then administer the sedation which comes in the form of a variety of drugs. Intravenous fluid will be also administered to rehydrate you. You will be completely monitored to ensure your safety.
Post-operative care
After your endoscopy you will be continued to be monitored until you recover from anaesthesia. If you are going home on the day of the surgery, you should have an adult accompany you home and to remain with you until the next day. You may eat and drink as you wish, unless instructed otherwise by your surgeon. You must not drive a car, operate machinery, sign any legal documents or drink alcohol on the day of surgery.
Preparation for endoscopy
Fasting
This is necessary to ensure that your stomach is empty to ensure that no food can go into your lungs and cause damage whilst under anaesthesia. You can have clear fluids up until 2 hours before your admission time. Please follow fasting guidelines for solids from your proceduralist according to your type of endoscopy.
Medication
Please bring all your medication to the hospital. You should take all your regular medication up to and including the day of surgery (with a small sip of water), except the following – diuretics, insulin, tablets that lower your blood sugar, or any blood thinning medication your surgeon has advised you to cease taking. If you are unsure about your medication, please do not hesitate to ask.
Smoking
Stop. The longer you stop smoking before anaesthesia, the greater the benefit.
Risks of anaesthesia
Australia is one of the safest places in the world to have an anaesthetic, partly due to the extensive specialty training of anaesthetists. Complications that are common and minor include nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, headache, sore throat and bruising at the site of injection. Rare and more serious events (which can be treated) include drug reaction, heart attack, lung problems, dental damage and possibility of recall during surgery.