Upper GI Endoscopy Procedure, Purpose, Preparation and Cost

To make sure the endoscopist performing the endoscopy has a clear view, your stomach must be completely empty. Therefore, you must not eat or drink anything for at least six hours before the endoscopy test.

Please omit diabetic medication on the night and on the morning before the procedure. You can take your blood pressure and thyroid medication with small amount of water at 6 am.

When you arrive in the hospital, you will be seen by a nurse. Please tell the nurse if:

• You are diabetic.
• You take medication for high blood pressure.
• If have had any reactions or allergies to other examinations in the past. 
• If you are taking any medicines that thin your blood or anticoagulant medicines. 
• If you have Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV.

You can choose to have this procedure done either with a local anaesthetic spray to numb your throat, or under sedation.

If you choose to have local anaesthetic spray, the sensation of gagging and retching will be felt as with anything touching the back of the throat. The advantages of having the throat spray are: 

• You can go home immediately after the test. 
• You do not need a relative or friend to take you home. 
• You will be able to drive yourself home after the test. 
• You can return to work after the test. 

If you choose to have sedation, you must arrange for a relative or friend to take you home approximately 2-3 hours after the test. This person should be 18 years of age or older. It is recommended that someone stays with you overnight. You will not be able to drive or operate any machinery for the remainder of the day and will need to rest quietly at home. Please note that your appointment will be cancelled on the day if you wish to have sedation but have not organized an escort home.

If you are unable to arrange someone to collect you, please contact us to discuss alternative arrangements.

After the procedure, you will be taken to the recovery area. If you have had sedation, you will need to rest quietly until the sedative has worn off (usually a couple of hours). The nurse will check your blood pressure and pulse and offer you some tea and biscuits.

If you have not had sedation you will be taken to the discharge area where you will be given a copy of the test results, and you will be able to leave the hospital straight afterwards. However, you will not be able to eat or drink anything until your swallow reflex returns, which usually takes about 30 minutes. After this, you will be able to eat and drink as normal, unless the doctor or nurse tells you otherwise. 

If you have had sedation, you must have someone to escort you home and stay with you overnight. He / She should come with you for the appointment or be contactable by phone when you are ready to leave.

You will usually be able to see your primary doctor on the same day.

The sedation lasts longer than you may think, and therefore you must not:

• Drive or ride a bicycle 
• Operate machinery or do anything requiring skill or judgement
• Drink alcohol 
• Take sleeping tablets 
• Go to the work 
• Make any important decisions, sign contracts or legal documents.

You should rest at home following your procedure and should be able to carry out your normal activities 24 hours after the test.

Endoscopy test price in Pace Hospitals is Rs. 2,700 (two thousand seven hundred) at Hitech City branch and Rs. Rs. 1,900 (one thousand nine hundred) at Madinaguda branch. However, price of Endoscopy test may vary, and it depends upon whether the procedure done with sedation or without sedation.