An upper endoscopy (UGI endoscopy) is recommended for several reasons: investigating persistent symptoms like upper abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, persistent heartburn, nausea, or vomiting; diagnosing conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, celiac disease, or inflammatory conditions; screening for or monitoring Barrett's esophagus; identifying the source of gastrointestinal bleeding; evaluating abnormalities found on imaging studies; treating conditions like strictures (narrowing) through dilation or removing foreign objects; and collecting tissue samples (biopsies) to test for various conditions including H. pylori infection or cancer. Your gastroenterologist will explain why this procedure is specifically recommended in your case.

UGI endoscopy is not typically painful. Before the procedure, your throat will be numbed with a local anesthetic spray, and you'll receive sedation medication through an IV to help you relax and minimize discomfort. Most patients experience minimal to no pain during the procedure—many have no memory of it due to the sedation. You may feel slight pressure or fullness as the endoscope passes through your digestive tract, but this is not painful. After the procedure, you might experience mild soreness in your throat for 1-2 days, which is normal. If you have concerns about discomfort, discuss them with your doctor beforehand, as sedation levels can be adjusted to ensure your comfort.

The UGI endoscopy procedure itself typically takes only 15-30 minutes to complete. However, the entire appointment will be longer—about 2-3 hours total—to allow time for preparation, sedation administration, the procedure itself, and initial recovery. Recovery time is relatively brief. You'll spend about 30-60 minutes in the recovery area as the sedation begins to wear off. Due to the sedation, you cannot drive for 24 hours after the procedure and must have someone accompany you home. Most people can resume normal activities the day after the procedure, though some return to work the same day (if performed in the morning). You can usually eat normally once your gag reflex returns, typically within a few hours after the procedure.

UGI endoscopy is generally very safe, but like any medical procedure, it carries some risks. The most common complications include: reaction to sedation medications (1-2%); minor throat irritation or soreness; temporary bloating or nausea. More serious but rare complications include: perforation (tear in the digestive tract lining) occurring in approximately 1 in 2,500 to 11,000 cases; bleeding, especially after biopsy or polyp removal (less than 1%); infection (extremely rare); aspiration (inhaling stomach contents into lungs); and dental injury if you have loose teeth. The risk increases slightly with therapeutic procedures like dilation or polyp removal. For most diagnostic procedures, serious complications occur in less than 0.1% of cases. Your doctor will discuss whether your specific health conditions might increase any of these risks.

Proper preparation for UGI endoscopy is essential for a successful procedure. You'll need to fast for 6-8 hours before the procedure (no food or liquids, including water). Your doctor will provide specific instructions about medications—some may need to be temporarily adjusted, particularly blood thinners, diabetes medications, or blood pressure medications. Bring a complete list of your medications and allergies to your appointment. Arrange for someone to drive you home, as you cannot drive for 24 hours after sedation. Wear comfortable clothing and leave valuables at home. Remove dentures, contact lenses, and jewelry before the procedure. If you're anxious, discuss this with your doctor beforehand—they can recommend approaches to help manage anxiety. Following these preparation instructions carefully ensures the safest and most effective procedure.

You'll receive your endoscopy results in stages. Immediately after the procedure, while you're in the recovery area, your doctor will provide preliminary findings—what they visually observed during the examination. If biopsies were taken, these results typically take 3-7 days to process. Your doctor will schedule either a follow-up appointment or phone call to discuss these complete results. For urgent findings that require immediate attention, your doctor will contact you sooner. You'll receive a written report summarizing all findings, which will also be sent to your referring physician. If you haven't heard about biopsy results within 7-10 days, it's appropriate to contact your doctor's office. We recommend bringing someone with you to your follow-up appointment to help remember important information about your results and treatment plan.