An upper endoscopy is a procedure that involves the insertion of a long, thin tube into the body to examine the lining of your esophagus, stomach, and the first part of your small intestine (duodenum). The tip of the endoscope is inserted into your mouth and moved gently through your throat into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
The scope allows your doctor to look for ulcers, inflammation, tumors, infection, or bleeding. In addition, your doctor will be able to perform a biopsy, remove polyps, and treat any bleeding through the scope. It is important to note that your doctor can determine many problems in an upper endoscopy that cannot be found in an X-ray.
Why Would I Need an Upper Endoscopy?
An upper endoscopy may be needed to detect the following:
- Inflammation of the esophagus
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Narrowing of the esophagus
- Swollen veins in the esophagus or stomach
- Barrett’s esophagus
- Hernia
- Ulcers
- Cancer
In addition, an upper endoscopy in Thousand Oaks can help determine:
- The cause of vomiting blood
- Determine the cause of symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, dysphagia, vomiting, unexplained weight loss
- Find the cause of an infection
- Examine stomach and upper small intestine after surgery
- Look for blockage in the stomach and duodenum
If you believe you may need an upper endoscopy for diagnosis or to rule out any other conditions, contact our team today. Our gastroenterologist in Thousand Oaks will be able to provide you the medical help you need. We have successfully performed a numerous amount of these procedures and have helped our patients every step of the way.