Upper Endoscopy (Gastroscopy)
Under deep sedation a flexible gastroscope is used to examine the gullet, stomach and the first part of the small bowel. This examination is indicated for patients complaining of upper abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, bloating or blood loss from the gastrointestinal tract.
It is a relatively safe procedure but significant problems such as bleeding or perforation (hole in the gut) may occur very rarely (less than one patient in three thousand). Severe anaesthetic complications occur rarely.
Click here to view information on sedation.
Click here to view Health Assessment form.
Click here to view Upper Endoscopy Consent form..


 Lower Endoscopy (Colonoscopy)
Under deep sedation a flexible colonoscope is used to examine the back passage, the large bowel and if possible the distal section of the small bowel. It is necessary to take a bowel preparation to clear the bowel so that good views are obtained of the mucosa. This examination is indicated for patients complaining of abdominal pain, change in bowel habit or blood loss from the gastrointestinal tract. It is a relatively safe procedure but significant problems such as bleeding or perforation (hole in the gut) may occur very rarely (less than one patient in one thousand). Severe anaesthetic complications occur rarely.
Click here to view information on sedation.
Click here to view Health Assessment form.
Click here to view Bowel Preparation information.
Click here to view Lower Endoscopy Consent form.
 

Capsule Endoscopy (Pillcam)
This tiny capsule is swallowed by an alert, fasted patient and travels through the gullet, stomach and small bowel for 8 hours taking photos. Views are obtained of the relatively inaccessible small bowel mucosa. This examination is useful for patients with anaemia or gastrointestinal bleeding that defies diagnosis with upper or lower endoscopy. It is generally a very safe procedure although there is a small risk that the Pillcam could be retained in the bowel requiring surgical intervention to remove.
The procedure is usually performed as an outpatient and the Pillcam is usually swallowed at 08.30am in the rooms at Medici and the patient returns
8 hours later to have the datarecorder removed and the information down -
loaded onto our computer.
Click here to view Pillcam Consent form.