Patient information for endoscopy

Endoscopic examinations

State-of-the-art flexible, high-resolution endoscopes are used to examine the gastrointestinal tract. There is a camera at the tip of the endoscope which transmits images from inside the body directly to a monitor. Various instruments and tools can be brought forward via a working channel, for example to take samples or remove polyps. Endoscopy enables a more precise diagnosis of many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Colonoscopy is particularly important in tumor screening, which is why it is generally recommended from the age of 50.

Gentle endoscopy

An endoscopic examination can generally be performed under short anesthesia. A drug is injected into a vein to put the patient to sleep and ensure that there are hardly any unpleasant sensations. Blood pressure, heart rhythm and oxygen saturation are continuously monitored during the examination. The routine use of carbon dioxide (CO2) instead of air to expand the digestive tract ensures a particularly gentle examination with significantly less abdominal discomfort after the procedure. After the examination, patients are monitored by specialist staff in the recovery room until they are fully awake and oriented again. Depending on the medication used and the dose, this usually takes between 30 minutes and two hours. In any case, you must not actively participate in road traffic, make important decisions or carry out dangerous activities for 24 hours afterwards. For this reason, it is imperative that you bring an accompanying person with you for outpatient examinations, who will take you home safely. In general, you must appear for endoscopic examinations on an empty stomach. All important aspects of an endoscopic examination will be explained to you in a direct treatment-related discussion. Here you can ask your questions and will be informed in detail about the risks, benefits and possible complications.

In addition to established standard procedures (gastroscopy, colonoscopy, etc.), we offer a variety of special techniques and procedures. You are welcome to make an appointment in the endoscopic consultation to plan your treatment.