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How To Prepare For Upper GI Endoscopy?
Question: I am having an upper GI tomorrow and I was wondering about Preparation. I know that I should fast for 12 hours, does that include not drinking water as well?
Brief Answer:
nothing by mouth
Detailed Answer:
You are getting an upper endoscopy or upper gi. You need to have an empty stomach for the procedure, since once you are asleep under anesthesia for the procedure, you may retch and potentially vomit any stomach contents, and this may go into your lungs.
The routine instructions are to be without anything by mouth after midnight before the procedure, but in general, anesthesia is deemed safe if you are 8 hours without anything by mouth.
An exception can be made for you to take certain medications the morning of the procedure (depending on the medications), with a sip of water to swallow your meds. These should be taken at least 2 hours before the procedure.
So yes you can take a sip of water 2 hours before the procedure in order to swallow your meds, but if your procedure is early in the morning, its better if you wait to take them after the procedure is done. If the procedure is mid-morning, noon or afternoon, then take your meds early in the morning.
Remember, no anti-inflammatories, blood thinners, aspirin, etc for a 1 week before the procedure.
Hopefully that answers your question.
nothing by mouth
Detailed Answer:
You are getting an upper endoscopy or upper gi. You need to have an empty stomach for the procedure, since once you are asleep under anesthesia for the procedure, you may retch and potentially vomit any stomach contents, and this may go into your lungs.
The routine instructions are to be without anything by mouth after midnight before the procedure, but in general, anesthesia is deemed safe if you are 8 hours without anything by mouth.
An exception can be made for you to take certain medications the morning of the procedure (depending on the medications), with a sip of water to swallow your meds. These should be taken at least 2 hours before the procedure.
So yes you can take a sip of water 2 hours before the procedure in order to swallow your meds, but if your procedure is early in the morning, its better if you wait to take them after the procedure is done. If the procedure is mid-morning, noon or afternoon, then take your meds early in the morning.
Remember, no anti-inflammatories, blood thinners, aspirin, etc for a 1 week before the procedure.
Hopefully that answers your question.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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