Gastroscopy is commonly used to investigate:
- Indigestion or heartburn (acid reflux)
- Upper abdominal discomfort or pain
- Bloating or feelings of fullness after eating
- Difficulty or painful swallowing or the feeling of food sticking
- Unexplained anaemia or weight loss
The most frequent causes of symptoms include acid reflux or stomach inflammation (gastritis), often linked to an infection with Helicobacter pylori. Gastroscopy helps confirm these conditions and guide the best treatment.
Other findings may include:
- Ulcers
- Hiatus hernia
- Barrett’s oesophagus (cell changes in the gullet)
- Benign or malignant tumours
Gastroscopy is performed as an outpatient procedure, usually taking around 10 minutes, with your total appointment lasting about one hour.
You can choose between:
- Local anaesthetic throat spray only: numbs the throat for a quick recovery.
- Sedation: a light sedative to help you relax and reduce awareness of the procedure (you’ll need someone to drive you home and you shouldn’t drive for 24 hours).
Most patients describe the procedure as uncomfortable but not painful, and those who have sedation often have little or no recollection afterwards.
You’ll receive a written report immediately after your procedure. If biopsies are taken, results for H. pylori infection are usually available the same day, while other samples take about two weeks.
Gastroscopy is a very safe procedure, but like all medical tests, it carries small risks including:
- Minor bleeding
- Perforation (a tear in the stomach or gullet wall – extremely rare)
- Missed small lesions
