A gastroscopy or upper endoscopy is a procedure during which an endoscope is inserted into your oesophagus, stomach, and your bowel from the inside.  

Why Do You Need a Gastroscopy? 

• You may need a gastroscopy, if you have: 

• Abdominal pain. 

• Indigestion or heartburn. 

• Difficulty swallowing. 

• Repeated vomiting. 

• Blood in your faeces. 

• Unexplained weight loss. 

What Happens During a Gastroscopy? 

During the procedure, you will be required to lie on your left side. The surgeon will: 

• Give you a sedative and spray the back of your throat with an anaesthetic to make it numb.  

• Put a plastic guard between your teeth to prevent you from biting the endoscope. 

• Put the endoscope into your mouth and ask you to swallow. 

• Insert the endoscope further and pump some air to view inside your abdomen. 

• Insert tiny surgical instruments (if required) in case of biopsy. 

What Happens After a Gastroscopy? 

The entire procedure will take about 10-15 minutes and you will be able to go home on the same day. 

What Are the Risks Associated with a Gastroscopy? 

Gastroscopy is safe. It may, however, cause: 

• Sore throat. 

• Coughing. 

• Blood in your cough. 

• Burping. 

• Minor bleeding from the oesophagus. 

Colonoscopy is an examination procedure to evaluate the inside of your large intestine, rectum, and anus. You may need a colonoscopy if you have colorectal cancer. 

What Happens During a Colonoscopy? 

A colonoscopy takes around 15 minutes to complete. It is done via a colonoscope which is a small, lighted camera attached to the end of a long, thin, and flexible tube or catheter. Your surgeon will insert this colonoscope through your anus and advance it through your colon to reach the small intestine. 

While advancing towards the small intestine, the catheter also pumps air to inflate it. The camera transmits video of your inside to a monitor. Your surgeon will analyze your condition by closely observing the result on the monitor and track back the colonoscope the same way it was inserted. 

What Happens After a Colonoscopy? 

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery room where you will be monitored for an hour before going back home. 

What Are the Risks Associated with a Colonoscopy? 

Colonoscopy is safe. It may, however, cause: 

• Injury to your colon wall. 

• Uncontrolled bleeding. 

• Infection. 

Colectomy or colon resection surgery is a surgical procedure to remove a part or all of your colon. 

Why Do You Need a Colectomy? 

You may need a colectomy if you have: 

• Colon cancer. 

• Precancerous colon. 

• Large bowel obstruction or inflammatory bowel disease. 

• Uncontrolled bleeding from the colon. 

What Happens During a Colectomy? 

Depending on your condition, your surgeon may perform the surgery with an open or laparoscopic approach. In general, during the surgery, your surgeon will: 

• Give you an anaesthesia. 

• Make one or more incisions on your abdomen. 

• Separate and remove the affected colon tissue. 

• Connect the healthy bowel with sutures or staples or create a stoma and redirect your bowel end to the stoma. 

• Close your incisions. 

What Happens After a Colectomy? 

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery area. If you had a laparoscopic procedure, you may go home on the same day. If you had an open procedure, you will likely be in the hospital for a few days. 

What Are the Risks Associated with a Colectomy? 

Colectomy is usually safe. It may, however, cause: 

• Infection. 

• Bleeding. 

• Injury to surrounding tissues.

Sigmoidoscopy or partial endoscopy is a procedure to examine the inside of your lower large intestine. It may be performed to look for the incidence of disease in your lower large intestine. 

Why Do You Need a Sigmoidoscopy? 

You may need a sigmoidoscopy in case of: 

1. Rectal bleeding. 

2. Change in your pooping habits. 

3. Pain in your lower abdomen. 

4. Unexplained weight loss. 

5. Inflammation in your intestinal lining. 

6. Colon ulcer. 

What Happens During a Sigmoidoscopy? 

During the procedure, your surgeon will: 

1. Ask you to lie on your left side with your knees bent towards your chest. 

2. Apply lubrication at the end of the endoscope and insert in your rectum. 

3. Slowly advance the endoscope as it blows gas to inflate your intestine. 

4. The sigmoidoscope will project images on the screen. 

5. Take a tissue sample with tiny surgical instruments if you require a biopsy. 

What Happens After a Sigmoidoscopy? 

The entire procedure will take around 15 minutes. Your surgeon will discuss the further steps with you. 

What Are the Risks Associated with a Sigmoidoscopy? 

Although rare, some possible risks include: 

• Rectal bleeding. 

• Diarrhoea. 

• Bloating. 

Polypectomy refers to a procedure to remove polyp. Polyp is an unnatural growth inside one of your organs or body cavities. These can be cancerous or non-cancerous. Most of the polyps, however, may develop into cancer. Hence, it is important to remove these in the first place. 

Why Do You Need a Polypectomy? 

You may need a polypectomy, if you have:

• Colon polyps. 

• Stomach polyps. 

• Uterine polyps. 

• Gallbladder polyps. 

What Happens During a Polypectomy? 

During a polypectomy, your surgeon will: 

• Pass the endoscope through either your anus or cervix or down your throat to reach the specific organ. 

• The camera will project images on a screen. 

• Remove the polyps with surgical instruments. 

What Happens After a Polypectomy? 

After the procedure, you will be required to stay in the hospital for a while and go back home on the same day.