What exactly is an EGD?

Q I recently went to my doctor because I’ve had stomach pain. She has ordered an EGD to try to figure out the cause of my pain. What exactly is an EGD?

A. EGD stands for—get ready… esophagogastroduodenoscopy. It’s often called upper GI (gastrointesti-nal) endoscopy. The test is done to look for abnormalities in the upper digestive tract. Specifically, it allows inspection of the esophagus (the tube that con-nects the mouth to the stomach), the stomach, and the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine).

To perform the test, the doctor inserts a thin flexible viewing tube called an endoscope down the throat and into the GI tract. As the scope passes through the various sections of the digestive tract, the doctor carefully examines the lining. If there is any abnormality, such as inflam-mation or bleeding, the doctor can insert an instrument through the scope to take a tissue sample (biopsy). The tissue will then be analyzed in a laboratory.

You can’t eat or drink anything for 6 to 12 hours before the EGD. It’s gener-ally performed after you’ve been lightly sedated. So, you won’t feel anything during the procedure. The test takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Then, you’ll need to stay in a recovery room until the sedation has worn off. Afterward, you may experience belching or intestinal gas and a sore throat. If a biopsy was done, your stool may appear black and tarry due to GI bleeding. Contact your doctor immediately if this occurs or you develop a fever.