Preparing for Your Endoscopy

You have been scheduled for an endoscopic procedure at MedCentral Health System's Endoscopy Department. This procedure will help your doctor determine the cause of your symptoms and the best treatment for you.

Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality of care. We will conduct all procedures respectfully, answer any questions you have and make sure you are as comfortable as possible.

Please read all of the following information and follow the directions carefully. This will help ensure the best possible examination as well as improve your comfort and convenience. 

If you have any questions about an upcoming procedure, call your physician or call MedCentral Endoscopy at 419-526-8714 between 6 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

About Endoscopies
An endoscopy is a visual examination of the digestive tract using a lighted flexible tube called an "endoscopy." Endoscopic procedures include upper endoscopy (EGD, ERCP, and PEG Placement) as well as a lower endoscopy (flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy). During an endoscopy, the physician might take pictures, remove abnormal growths or take tissue samples, or "biopsies," for further analysis.

Your procedure time depends on the type of procedure and the amount of sedation you receive. With the admitting process, the procedure and the recovery period, expect to spend a total of 2-3 hours in the endoscopy department.

Please bring a family member or a friend to drive you home or we will be unable to sedate you. Taxi drivers or other forms of public transportation are unable to accept the responsibility for taking you home. It is also very important that the nurses go over your discharge instructions with the person accompanying you; because of the effects of the sedation, you might not remember.

Diet
You might be instructed to follow a "clear liquid" diet the day before your procedure. Clear liquids include water, clear broth or bouillon, plain gelatin (lime, lemon or orange only), black coffee, tea, clear fruit juice without pulp (apple, cranberry or grape), Gatorade, Kool-Aid or Popsicles and soft drinks such as 7-Up, Sprite or ginger ale. Do not drink whole milk, milkshakes, orange juice, tomato juice, grapefruit juice, pineapple juice or apricot juice. Do not eat or drink any foods or liquids with artificial red or purple food coloring, as they might interfere with the results of your procedure. Do not eat solid foods of any kind.

The day before your procedure, drink plenty of liquids all day long! This will help clean your bowel and prevent dehydration from the laxative.

Remember: You must not consume anything by mouth after midnight the night before your procedure unless you are instructed by your physician to take medication the morning of the examination. In that case, please take your medication with the least amount of water possible.

Your bowel needs to be as empty and clean as possible for good visualization during the procedure. This means that your stool (after the laxative) should be clear to light yellow or green with only a few small particles of stool, if any at all. The nurse in the admitting area will ask you what your last bowel movement looked like. If he or she has any doubt about your results, you will receive an enema to be sure you are as clean as possible for your procedure.

If you have any doubt about whether your bowel is adequately cleaned out, or if you are having difficulty with the prep, please call your doctor.

Medications
The day of your procedure, please bring a list of all medications you are taking, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbals, supplements and vitamins.

Do not take Plavix, Coumadin or Aspirin in any form for one week before your procedure. Medications that thin the blood can interfere with our ability to take tissue samples or provide certain treatments. They can also increase the risk of bleeding.

Beginning 48 hours before your procedure, stop using the following arthritis, non-steroidal or anti-inflammatory medications:

If you are unsure whether a medication you are on falls in any of those categories, please ask your physician.

Before testing, if you are taking antibiotics for heart valve disease or another medical condition please let the physician doing your procedure know so we have adequate time to arrange to give you the medications you need.

If you are diabetic and take insulin, you might need to adjust your insulin dosages before your procedure. Please call the physician who is managing your diabetes for individual instructions.

What to Wear

• Comfortable, loose-fitting clothes that are easy to step in and out of.
• Flat shoes or tennis shoes.
• Do not wear colored nail polish.
• Do not wear jewelry or bring any valuables.
• Do not wear perfumes or colognes, as some people are sensitive or allergic to these.

How to Get Here

Directions and map to Mansfield Hospital

When you arrive at Mansfield Hospital, do not stop at outpatient registration unless told to do so by your doctor's office. Go directly to the Endoscopy Department, which is located on the second floor, the same floor you enter the hospital. Check in with our receptionist.

Family or Friends
Those accompanying you may wait in the reception area during your procedure. They may sit with you before your procedure after you are admitted, and they may sit with you in the recovery area after your procedure.

We can provide pagers for family or friends who need to go to go to another area of the hospital. If they are leaving the hospital, they must provide a telephone number where we can reach them.

Please note that your support person should be nearby when you reach the recovery area so he or she can talk to your doctor about the findings of your procedure.

What Will Happen
A nurse will take you to a private dressing room where you will change into a hospital gown and robe. Lockers are provided for you to put your clothes and belongings in until discharge.

You will then be shown to the admitting area where we will do a brief physical assessment and take your vital signs. We will also ask you about your medical history and other pertinent information. We'll discuss what to expect, medications you may receive and answer any questions. For patients receiving sedation, we will start an intravenous line.

Please be sure to tell us if you are allergic to latex or silk tape, or if you have any allergies to medication and what type of reactions you have experienced. Also, tell us if you have any loose teeth or if you have any problems with your mouth or gums.

You might receive light sedation through your IV line to make you drowsy and reduce any discomfort. You will still be able to hear and respond to the physician and nurses in your room. It might occasionally be necessary for the nurse to give you some oxygen.

After Your Procedure
We will take you to a recovery area where you will be assessed further. Typically, your stay in recovery is less than an hour. Your IV line will be removed before you are discharged. If you did not receive sedation, you will be allowed to leave after a short recovery period.

The physician will speak with you and those accompanying you about the results of your examination. Your referring physician will receive a written report. If tissue samples are taken during your procedure, you will be notified of the results by your physician's office.

A nurse will review your results and discuss your discharge instructions with you and those accompanying you. If you received sedation, you will be instructed not to drive (considered legally to be driving under the influence). You will also be instructed not to operate any machinery or do any tasks requiring mental concentration or physical coordination.

Upon discharge, you will be taken by one of our staff to the outpatient discharge exit.

After your procedure, you might experience belching, gas or a feeling of fullness. These are common side effects, and should go away within a day.

Other Questions
We hope this information will help you prepare for your procedure. If you have any questions, call your physician or call MedCentral Endoscopy at 419-526-8714 between 6 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Our staff will call you a day or two after your procedure to make sure you were completely satisfied with your care. We look forward to serving you.

Last updated January 9, 2012