Gastroscopy in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is a gastroscopy?
A gastroscopy is a direct look at the upper part of the digestive tract. The gastroscope is a slim, bendable tube about the width of a little finger, with a light and a camera at its tip. It travels through the mouth, down the oesophagus (the gullet), into the stomach and on to the duodenum, the first stretch of the small intestine. Doctors often write it as "OGD", short for oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy, which simply lists those three places in order.
The pictures appear on a screen in real time, so the gastroenterologist sees the colour and texture of the lining, any inflammation, ulcers, narrowing or bleeding points, and the valve where the gullet joins the stomach. A scan shows shape and outline; a gastroscopy shows the surface itself, and it lets the doctor take tiny samples of tissue, called biopsies, through a channel in the scope. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, gastroscopy is carried out by the gastroenterology team, who also see you in clinic before and after the test.
Who needs it
Your gastroenterologist may recommend a gastroscopy when symptoms point to the upper digestive tract and a clear view of the lining will guide treatment. Common reasons include:
- Heartburn or acid reflux that keeps returning despite medication, described on the acid reflux page
- Food or tablets feeling stuck, or pain on swallowing
- Vomiting blood, or black stools, once you are stable
- Iron deficiency anaemia with no clear cause, since slow bleeding from the stomach or duodenum can be silent
- Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
- Persistent indigestion or upper tummy pain, particularly if it starts later in life
- Checking that a stomach ulcer has healed
A gastroscopy is also a route to testing for coeliac disease, because biopsies from the duodenum confirm it. For this reason, keep eating gluten until the test unless your doctor advises otherwise.
What happens
On the day, a nurse checks your details, medicines and allergies, and the gastroenterologist explains the test and asks for your consent. You choose, with your doctor, between a local anaesthetic throat spray and sedation. The spray numbs the back of the throat and lets you go home soon afterwards without an escort. Sedation, given through a small cannula in the hand, makes you drowsy and relaxed; the options are described on the anesthesia for endoscopy and sedation for procedures pages.
You lie on your left side, a plastic mouth guard protects your teeth and the scope, and a clip on your finger monitors your oxygen level. The gastroenterologist passes the scope over the tongue and asks you to swallow once as it enters the gullet. A little air gently opens the stomach for a clear view, which can make you feel full or want to burp. Breathing continues normally through the nose and mouth throughout, since the scope sits in the food pipe and your airway stays open.
Biopsies feel like nothing at all, because the stomach lining has no pain nerves of the kind skin has. One routine sample is a quick test for Helicobacter pylori, the stomach bacterium behind many ulcers; if it is found, treatment is explained on the H. pylori treatment page. Samples are sent to the laboratory for examination.
Preparing for it
An empty stomach gives the clearest view and keeps the test safe, so you are given fasting instructions for food and drinks beforehand. Tell the team in advance if you take blood thinners, diabetes treatment or weight-loss injections, because some of these need adjusting and slower stomach emptying from certain weight-loss medicines can change the fasting advice.
If you are fasting during Ramadan, a morning appointment after suhoor usually fits well; discuss the timing with the team when you book. In the Sharjah heat, drink well on the day before so you begin the fast well hydrated.
If you choose sedation, arrange for an adult to take you home and stay with you for the rest of the day. Bring a list of your medicines and any earlier endoscopy reports, as comparing findings over time is useful.
Afterwards
With throat spray, you wait until the numbness wears off before eating or drinking, starting with a sip of water. With sedation, you rest in the recovery area until you are fully awake. A slightly sore throat and some bloating from the air are common and settle quickly.
The gastroenterologist often shares what was seen on the screen before you leave, and biopsy results follow at a clinic appointment. After sedation, avoid driving, operating machinery or signing important documents for the rest of the day.
Go to the emergency department straight away if you develop chest pain, severe tummy pain, vomiting blood, black stools, a fever or difficulty swallowing after a gastroscopy. For other questions about your recovery or results, call the hospital on 06 599 7777.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE health insurance plans cover a gastroscopy requested by a doctor for symptoms, and pre-approval is usually required before the date is confirmed. Biopsy analysis and sedation may be billed as separate items on the claim. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you check your cover and arrange pre-approval on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a gastroscopy painful?
A gastroscopy is usually uncomfortable rather than painful, with brief gagging as the scope passes the throat and a full feeling from the air. Throat spray or sedation makes the test easier, and sedated patients often remember little of it.
Can I breathe normally during a gastroscopy?
You can breathe normally during a gastroscopy, because the scope goes down the food pipe while the windpipe stays open. Breathing slowly through the nose helps the gag reflex settle.
What are the risks of a gastroscopy?
The risks of a gastroscopy are low but include a sore throat, reactions to sedation, bleeding after a biopsy, and, rarely, a tear in the lining of the gullet or stomach that would need urgent treatment. Damage to teeth or dental work is possible, which is why a mouth guard is used. A gastroscopy also has limits: it examines only the upper tract, so symptoms from the bowel may need a colonoscopy or other tests.
Do I need sedation for a gastroscopy?
Sedation is optional for a gastroscopy, and many people manage well with throat spray alone. Spray lets you leave sooner and drive home, while sedation makes the test more relaxed but needs an adult escort and a day off driving.
When will I get my gastroscopy results?
The visible findings of a gastroscopy are often explained on the day, while biopsy results come back from the laboratory later and are discussed at a follow-up appointment. If a result changes your treatment, your gastroenterologist explains the next steps.
Should I stop my acid-reducing medicine before a gastroscopy?
You may be asked to pause acid-reducing medicine for a period before a gastroscopy, because it can heal inflammation and hide *H. pylori* on testing. Follow the specific instructions given to you and keep taking other medicines unless told otherwise.
Can a gastroscopy detect stomach cancer?
A gastroscopy is the main test for finding cancer of the gullet, stomach or duodenum, because the doctor sees the lining directly and biopsies any suspicious area. Most findings are benign, such as inflammation or ulcers, and if cancer is found, treatment is arranged by referral.
Is a gastroscopy covered by insurance in the UAE?
Most UAE insurance plans cover a gastroscopy requested for symptoms, usually after pre-approval from the insurer. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777 before your appointment.
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