At Tamarind Specialist Centre we offer the latest in treatment methods and technologies to treat gastrointestinal and colorectal conditions.

Our experienced team of colorectal surgeons are dedicated to delivering exceptional care and supporting you through your diagnosis, treatment, and beyond.

Ahead of your endoscopy, it’s normal to feel a bit overwhelmed by the amount of new information people are sharing with you.

Knowing more about your procedure and what to expect before and after can help you prepare. The following information has been put together to help you understand your procedure and we hope to reduce any concerns you have.

We encourage you to speak to your doctor and care team, who are here to support you throughout your time at Tamarind Specialists.

We will always have time to talk to you and answer your questions.

An upper endoscopy is a short procedure performed under monitored anaesthetic care (MAC) or intravenous sedation (IVS) to investigate or diagnose upper gastrointestinal conditions including:

• Oesophageal cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Polyps
• Oesophageal gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST)
• Oesophagitis
• Peptic ulcers
• Varices

The procedure is performed using an endoscope to view the inside of the upper gastrointestinal tract and investigate abnormal tissue or polyps. An upper endoscopy, also known as oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD), involves the insertion of a long, narrow flexible tube with a camera, which also includes a light, irrigation and insufflation systems, into the mouth through to the duodenum. Using different accessory instruments, an OGD can be used to both diagnose and treat a range of conditions through procedures such as biopsy (taking a tissue sample of abnormal polyps or suspicious lesions for further examination). The procedure can also be performed to remove foreign bodies, test for Helicobacter pylori, stop bleeding or relieve obstruction through stenting.

Your surgeon may suggest an upper endoscopy to investigate or diagnose upper gastrointestinal conditions if you have a family history of oesophageal cancer or to further investigate the following conditions:

It’s natural to want to know more about your procedure. We’ve included some common questions that patients ask about an endoscopy to help you. Your treatment team at Tamarind Specialists can also answer any additional questions that you have at any point in time.