Gastroscopy
Gastroscopy is a test which allows the doctor to look directly at the lining of the oesophagus (the gullet), the stomach and around the first bend of the small intestine - the duodenum.
In order to do the test a gastroscope is carefully passed through your mouth into the stomach. The gastroscope is a long flexible tube (thinner then your little finger), with a bright light at the end. Looking down the tube, the doctor gets a clear view of the lining of the stomach and can check whether any disease is present.
Sometimes the doctor takes a biopsy a sample of tissue, which is removed painlessly through the gastroscope, using tiny forceps. This is then sent to the laboratory for further tests.
We will soon be adding detailed patient information about this procedure.