Procedure of the anesthesia | Anaesthesia within the scope of a gastroscopy

Procedure of the anesthesia

In the morning before the gastroscopy, a tablet is first administered, which has a relaxing and anxiolytic effect on the patient. This is usually Dormicum. This medication is often sufficient to make a gastroscopy comfortable enough for the patient.

However, if general anesthesia is chosen, further steps are necessary. In order to induce general anesthesia, a venous catheter is first inserted and oxygen is given through a mask, which is held in front of the patient’s nose and mouth. Anaesthetic gas or a medication (usually propofol), which is administered intravenously by means of a syringe, then ensures that the patient falls asleep.

During gastroscopy, the patient’s condition is constantly monitored on the basis of his or her vital parameters (breathing, heart rhythm, blood pressure). Once the examination is completed, the anesthesia is finally discharged. Until the patient is fully conscious again, he or she is monitored in the recovery room for about 1 to 2 hours. If nausea or pain occurs, it can be treated here. Driving a car or operating machines is not allowed for the next few hours after anesthesia.

Duration of anesthesia and examination

Just like the gastroscopy itself, the anesthesia does not take very long during this examination; the preparation for the gastroscopy generally takes considerably more time than the gastroscopy itself. For the duration of the examination, one can assume about a quarter of an hour. It takes about one to two hours from the beginning of the preparations to waking up.

Gastroscopy in children – with anesthesia?

As with adults, the administration of a sedative before a gastroscopy is sufficient for larger children and adolescents. A vein access is required for this. In small children, however, a gastroscopy should be performed under general anesthesia.

Although the examination is painless, it is not possible to explain this to a small child in advance and the examination may be experienced as negative. In this case, an anesthetic is useful to avoid psychological trauma. However, no general recommendation can be made in this regard, as an individual assessment of the risks and benefits should always be carried out.