First you have to swallow so the gastroscope can enter your esophagus (food pipe). Then it is slowly pushed into your stomach and down to the entrance of your duodenum. Using the video images, your doctor can examine your food pipe and stomach lining to look for redness or inflammations.

Where is a gastroscope inserted?

Otherwise, you will be given a sedative injection through a vein in your arm before the procedure. Doctors will gently insert the gastroscope through your mouth and into the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum (upper part of the small bowel). The test usually takes about 5 to 10 minutes.

How do you do a gastroscopy?

You'll be asked to lie down on your left-hand side and the endoscopist will insert the endoscope into your throat. They'll ask you to swallow it to help move it down into your oesophagus. This may be uncomfortable at first and you may feel sick or gag, but this should pass as the endoscope is moved further down.