Gastroscopy under local anesthesia
If the gastroscopy is performed without anesthesia, you will usually be given a sedative medication a few hours before the examination. A special spray is then used to lightly anesthetize the throat shortly before the gastroscopy so that no gag reflex is triggered when the tube is inserted.
Anesthesia other than local anesthesia is usually not necessary for gastroscopy because the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract is less sensitive to pain. Therefore, gastroscopy does not cause pain.
By not using general anesthesia, the circulation is less stressed and consciousness and responsiveness are only slightly affected by the sedative. Therefore, you can return home more quickly after the gastroscopy.
Do not eat or drink again until the local anesthetic has worn off completely. This usually takes about two hours.
Gastroscopy under sedation
The patient is in a kind of twilight sleep during the gastroscopy and the duration of the treatment is also perceived as shorter and more pleasant. Once the gastroscopy is complete, he or she goes to a recovery room. There, the patient remains monitored until he is no longer tired.
Self-assessment and responsiveness are impaired for several hours after such sedation. During this time, you will not be able to actively participate in road traffic or operate machinery.
Have yourself escorted home (pick-up person, cab) if the gastroscopy was performed as an outpatient procedure in a doctor’s office. Discuss with your doctor how long you should stay away from traffic and machines. As a rule, he recommends refraining from driving and the like for 12 to 24 hours. The exact time period depends primarily on the medication administered.
Gastroscopy with anesthesia
Medication is used to switch off the patient’s pain sensation and reflexes while the patient is deeply asleep. During this process, the patient is artificially ventilated and vital functions such as heartbeat and oxygen supply are monitored. After gastroscopy under general anesthesia, the patient must be supervised until the anesthetic effect has completely worn off.
As with lighter sedation, patients must refrain from driving or operating machinery after general anesthesia.
In contrast to local anesthesia and sedation, gastroscopy under anesthesia involves additional risks. For this reason, the physician must perform further examinations beforehand to ensure that risk factors such as cardiovascular diseases are clarified.
