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This minimally invasive procedure combines endoscopy with ultrasound to assess digestive and lung diseases.
No Referral Required
It can be used to diagnose chronic pancreatitis, or cancer of the esophagus, stomach, rectum and pancreas. It can also be used to treat abdominal pain associated with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
What to Expect
An ultrasound transducer is placed at the end of an endoscope and advanced into the stomach or intestine. The ultrasound transducer produces a high-resolution image of the gastrointestinal lining and other structures located beyond the gastrointestinal wall.
- Complications such as perforation or pancreatitis are very rare. The patient should not eat or drink anything for at least 6 hours prior to the procedure.
Preparation for the Procedure
Dizziness and headache could be signs of low blood sugar or lack of caffeine. Drinking a regular caffeinated beverage (not diet) or apple juice may alleviate these symptoms.
Gatorade, which comes in many flavors, is an excellent choice as it contains electrolytes such as potassium. Avoid RED/BLUE liquids. We also recommend beef and chicken bouillon (made from cubes not broth).
The color can persist in the colon and make an accurate diagnosis more difficult.
We strongly suggest you do not drink any alcoholic beverages prior to your procedure since they can cause dehydration and some wines may thin your blood.
No candy or gum is allowed 4 hours prior to your procedure.
During the Procedure
Loose comfortable clothing is recommended. You can wear make up but we advise patients not to wear jewelry. If you wear contacts please bring your case and solution so that you can remove them prior to your procedure.
No, since sedatives are used, another driver is needed. This driver MUST stay during the procedure or the procedure will not be performed. This is for your personal safety. You may bring more than one person with you, but only one person can be with you in recovery due to space limitations.
Medication for blood pressure, heart conditions, and seizure should be taken the morning of your exam regardless of the color. Light blue and light pink medications are also fine for you to take. If you have a headache, you may take Tylenol even though it may be red.
Yes, please.
Yes, you may wear your dentures to the Endoscopy suite. However, you may be asked to remove them prior to the procedure.
We ask patients to arrive early so that we can do a pre-procedure assessment and start the IV. Please call 864.232.7338 if you are running more than 15 minutes late, so that we can work together to adjust the schedule so that we can accommodate this delay.
After the Procedure
You may have residual anesthesia in your system, additional rest is recommended.
No, please take it easy the rest of the day. Due to the sedatives, you may not think clearly for several hours. DOÂ NOTÂ DRIVE. You can return to work the day after your procedure, unless your physician specifically tells you otherwise.
Results are given by the doctor to you in the recovery room. You may or may not remember talking to the doctor so your results will also be in your discharge instructions. Pathology may take up to 2 weeks to get results.
We have implemented our Patient Portal to enable you to receive your lab, pathology and radiology test results at your convenience. You may also ask your questions through the portal. First – Get enrolled in the Portal at GastroAssociates.com. Once Enrolled in the Portal, you will log into your account at nextmd.com. For New Results: You will receive an email notice that new results are ready for your review. You will log into your Portal account to get those results. You must be enrolled within 3 days after your procedure for your results to be posted to the portal. To Ask Questions, Request an Appointment or Request Copies of Previous Records: You will log into your Portal account and request those services. **Please note: Enroll in our Patient Portal soon. Results can’t be sent automatically until you have created your portal account. If we have your email address, you will receive an email with the link to the enrollment site.
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