An upset stomach is most often not associated with food poisoning. The causes of discomfort in many cases are exacerbations of various chronic diseases of the digestive tract. In particular, the stomach, esophagus, pancreas or intestines may disturb.
Which doctor should I contact?
To establish the exact cause of the deterioration, you should visit a specialist - a gastroenterologist. The doctor conducts an examination, prescribes a comprehensive examination. In particular, the specialist recommends gastroscopy of the stomach. This diagnostic method allows you to identify different organ pathologies.
In what cases is a study prescribed?
Gastroscopy of the stomach is recommended for pain in the epigastric region due to food intake. As a rule, in this case, discomfort appears a few minutes after eating or on an empty stomach. The study is prescribed for frequent vomiting or nausea, belching with a sour taste. It is recommended if there is a constant feeling of fullness or heaviness in the stomach after eating. Indications for the procedure include frequent vomiting with an admixture of blood or food taken on the eve, heartburn.
Gastroscopy of the stomach is used for suspected organ pathology. Indications in this case include the likelihood of acute or chronic atrophic gastritis (disturbances in the production of gastric juice), peptic ulcer disease (a condition characterized by the formation of defects in the mucosa in the form of an ulcer) or its exacerbation and complications (bleeding, narrowing of the lumen and others). The study is prescribed for suspected polyps (growths on the membrane), cancer and other pathologies. This diagnostic method is recommended for patients who underwent a
gastric examination without gastroscopy, but did not reveal any irregularities, despite the presence of subjective symptoms. During the procedure, a biopsy can be performed - a suspicious tissue site is taken for subsequent examination under a microscope. This diagnostic method is considered the most important in detecting
gastric cancer. If you suspect the development of peptic ulcer, the specialist takes a scraping from the mucous membrane. The resulting material is investigated further using special methods for the presence of the pathogen - Helicobacter pylori.
Pre-diagnostic measures
Preparation for gastroscopy of the stomach includes not only physiological procedures. Equally important is the psychological mood of the patient. There is an opinion that during or after the procedure there are unpleasant sensations in the studied area. In this regard, many patients are afraid of this examination. The gastroenterologist, in turn, must convince the patient of the painlessness of the method. It should be noted that modern equipment allows you to make the procedure quite bearable. Nevertheless, despite the use of the most modernized video endoscopes, it is unpleasant for a person to swallow a hose with a camera. In this regard, experts advise patients to take sedatives that help prevent the vomiting reflex. Before the procedure, the patient should be given the necessary tests - which ones, the doctor will prescribe. Within a few days before the expected date of the study, it is recommended to adhere to a special diet. The gastroenterologist will tell you which products can and should not be consumed. Forbidden refers to alcohol. Twelve hours before the study, you must stop eating.
Immediately before the procedure, if the psychological preparation for gastroscopy of the stomach did not give the desired effect, the patient may be asked to conduct an examination in a dream. In this case, the patient is given sleeping pills. The effect of the drug lasts about an hour. The patient falls asleep, and after waking up he learns about successful gastroscopy. The medications used in this case are safe, they can be taken even with a severe course of peptic ulcer for daily studies. Experts note that this method of "unconscious" research has a side effect. After the diagnosis and awakening, the patient is in a somewhat inhibited state. In this regard, on the day of the study, it is not recommended to drive or engage in any other potentially dangerous activity. In case of diabetes mellitus or epilepsy, the patient must inform the doctor about this. You should also inform the specialist about intolerance or hypersensitivity to any drugs (in particular, lidocaine or novocaine), to certain products.
Alternative method
If the patient still does not agree to conduct the study in the traditional way, gastroscopy of the stomach with a capsule is recommended. In any case, the patient will have to swallow. But the capsule is much smaller than the hose - its length is about one and a half centimeters. Inside the camera, which is designed for continuous operation for seven hours. After the procedure, the capsule naturally leaves the body during defecation. When conducting a study using this method of preparation, a special one is not required. The patient simply swallows the capsule and drinks it with water.
How do gastroscopy of the stomach?
Diagnosis is carried out in a clinic or hospital. The study is carried out in a special cabinet FGDS. When using the traditional method, a specialist performs gastroscopy of the stomach under anesthesia. Local anesthesia acts in the area of the pharyngeal ring. Along with anesthesia, medications are introduced into the bloodstream that contribute to the relaxation of swallowing muscles. As an anesthetic, novocaine injection or throat treatment with a lidocaine spray can be used. After anesthesia, the patient is invited to clamp a special mouthpiece with his teeth. An endoscope is inserted through this device. In the process, quite intense vomiting may occur. The patient should calm down. It is recommended to breathe deeply and evenly, despite the fact that the procedure can cause some discomfort. The less resistance the patient has, the faster the test will be conducted. In the process of diagnosis, a specialist examines the inner surface of the stomach. A typical study without additional manipulations takes about three minutes.
Features of a study in a child
Gastroscopy of the stomach can be prescribed not only for adults, but also for children. Due to the fact that the child behaves, as a rule, very uneasy, the diagnosis is carried out under general anesthesia. The diameter of the optical tube (endoscope) is selected in accordance with the age of the patient. For children, the size usually does not exceed 6-9 millimeters.
How is the diagnosis using the capsule?
When using the alternative method, the capsule, after penetrating the digestive system, “travels” along it, examining the mucous membrane in detail. In the process, data on the state of the walls of the digestive tract is recorded. After viewing the information received from the camera, the doctor uses a special program to establish an accurate diagnosis. It should be said that the disadvantage of this research method is the impossibility of a biopsy of the mucosa.
Gastroscopy of the stomach. Reviews
When diagnosing in the traditional way, many patients experience discomfort, discomfort at the time of swallowing the tube. As a rule, this occurs with excessive nervousness and fear of the procedure itself. In a calm state, the process gives a minimum of inconvenience. Reviews of some patients indicate the presence of discomfort in the throat for one to two days after the study. In general, the procedure is tolerated satisfactorily. The undoubted advantage of this study is its short duration. Experts note that in some (extremely rare) cases, bleeding may open after the procedure. This may be due to damage to the wall of the investigated organ. But today, doctors use the latest developments in diagnosis. In this regard, any damage to the stomach is practically excluded.
Additional features
Gastroscopy can be used to carry out medical manipulations. In particular, during the procedure, the specialist removes polyps - excessive growths that have occurred on the mucosa, which in many cases can lead to the development of cancer if they are not removed. In the research process, it is possible to stop the bleeding of a stomach ulcer, apply drugs directly to the lesion site. In the case of additional manipulations of a therapeutic or prophylactic nature, the duration of the procedure can be increased to ten to fifteen minutes. It should be noted that the capsule method does not allow for other measures than diagnostic ones.
How much will the study cost?
The cost of the procedure depends on the volume of the study, as well as the method by which gastroscopy of the stomach will be performed. Prices in Moscow, for example, range from one to forty-five thousand rubles. The most expensive is a comprehensive study of the entire digestive tract using the capsule method. The diagnostic rapid test for the presence of Helicobacter pylori is considered the cheapest procedure. In regions, the cost may be lower. But it must be said that in large cities the most modern equipment is used and highly qualified specialists work.
Conclusion
Gastroscopy is considered one of the most important procedures included in a set of diagnostic measures to identify pathologies in the digestive system. Experts recommend having a checkup regularly. When appointing a procedure by a gastroenterologist, his prescriptions should not be ignored. It should be noted that in some countries this type of diagnosis is mandatory and is part of a comprehensive survey, which is carried out annually. In Japan, for example, people sign up for a procedure at will. According to statistics, in this country, only a small percentage of the population suffers from cancer of the stomach and other pathologies of the digestive tract. Equally important is this type of diagnosis when examining children. Gastroscopy allows you to detect diseases at the earliest stages. In addition, when using the traditional method of research, it is possible to take biological material for a more detailed study. Thus, the specialist will make an accurate diagnosis and select the optimal treatment for the patient.