To perform a gastroscopy, trained general surgeons like Dr. Ganesh uses an instrument called a gastroscope. The gastroscope consists of a long, thin tube with optical lenses and channels through which the doctor can watch on a monitor see inside your stomach. The doctor uses the camera at the end of the tube to push it into your tummy through the mouth.

A gastroscopy in Singapore is often done for people who have chronic digestive or intestinal problems that do not resolve even after they have undergone multiple tests. It is also used to find out if someone has cancer of their esophagus (food pipe) or stomach (gastric cancer). A gastroscopy may be performed before upper endoscopy (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-ERCP).

It is also used to find out if someone has cancer of their esophagus (food pipe) or stomach (gastric cancer). This procedure assists the doctor to look at the innermost lining of your digestive tract and check for any abnormalities. 

The main reason you may need a gastroscopy done is to see if early signs point towards cancer. It can detect ulcers and any abnormal growths that might indicate tumors before they become big and dangerous. However, not all tumors cause symptoms, so it’s important to have a gastroscopy done from time to time, even if you don’t have any symptoms.

How is the Procedure Performed, and what are the Risks Involved?

For this test, you will be asked to lie on your left side with your knees drawn upwards towards your chest. The gastroscopy tube is then gently fed down through your throat into the stomach. A small camera at the end of the tube allows images to be displayed on a video monitor so that the doctor can see inside your stomach lining. 

The examination usually lasts for about 30 – 60 minutes but can last longer depending on how many tests need to be done and what they entail. It may occasionally take a little longer or shorter time as per discretion of attending doctors or medical consultants, international accredited jurisdictions, private hospitals, private clinics, Singapore-based organizations treatments required.

A gastroscopy is usually done under anesthesia, but this can vary depending on the type of gastroscopy that’s being done. For example, an endoscopy may only require you to take a sedative instead. 

Once you are asleep or sedated, the doctor will thread the slender tube through your mouth and into your stomach so they can see it on a monitor screen in real-time. They might also need to check other parts of your digestive system, including the upper small intestine (duodenum) and lower small intestine (ileum), large intestine (colon), gallbladder, pancreas, or bile ducts, for any abnormalities or growths that might require treatment. Once the gastroscope has been taken out, the doctor will remove the attached camera and send it to a lab for further analysis.

The doctor may also insert another tube into your rectum (back passage), so they can take samples of tissue or fluid through another channel in the gastroscope’s tube, which is then sent to a laboratory for testing. Once all these procedures are done, you will be taken back to your room, where you can rest until you wake up. 

In most cases, there aren’t any complications from having a gastroscopy done, but it is always better if your doctor makes an assessment about why they need to do this procedure and what kind of risks could come up based on previous medical conditions. You should let them know if you have any allergies or past reactions to drugs. They might also ask you to stop taking certain medications up to 10 days prior to the procedure, especially any drugs that affect your blood’s ability to clot.

What are the Benefits of Getting a Gastroscopy Done regularly?

Usually, gastroscopies are done on an outpatient basis. However, this means that you will need someone to drive you home after your gastroscopy in Singapore unless your doctor feels it’s okay for you to go on your own. If this is the case, they may recommend taking painkillers, but make sure to ask at your local pharmacy before getting them filled so you know if they’ll interact with any other medications or vitamins you might be taking regularly.

The main benefit of having a gastroscopy regularly is to check for early signs of cancerous tumors in your digestive system and check for ulcers and any other abnormalities that could indicate problems down the road. There are many types of polyps that may form along with these areas, which can often be removed using minimally invasive techniques. These tests are important because, along with colonoscopies, they aid to detect any abnormality in the digestive system which could lead to cancer of any kind or other abnormalities that may require treatment or surgery.

In many cases, a gastroscopy is used as a diagnostic tool where doctors will use it to assess an active case of diarrhea and nausea, the feeling of vomiting, etc. In such cases, your doctor might need your help during the test so that he can ask you about what you ate recently and also take samples of food from your stomach for testing purposes.

How much does a Gastroscopy Cost in Singapore, and is it Covered by Insurance Plans?

The costs associated with gastroscopies in Singapore range from $1,000 to $2,000. However, many local clinics offer these procedures at a lower cost, so it is always good to shop around for affordable rates. For example, some places might agree to price match to avail of these services at an affordable rate, which still maintains the standard of care you will be getting.

In most cases, gastroscopies are covered under insurance plans, but this is subject to your plan and the type of information they have on file about your past treatments and procedures. In some cases where there have been complications due to a failed gastroscopy, perhaps from a previous instance, patients may not be fully reimbursed for costs associated with the procedure. Ensure you know your coverage before agreeing to the procedure and what happens if there is a complication later on.

Are there any Side Effects Associated with Gastroscopy that Patients should be Aware of 

As with most endoscopic procedures, there may be some potential risks involved, so this is why doctors will need to assess each patient individually and state where their risks lie in terms of whether they can proceed with gastroscopy in Singapore or not. Some examples might include:

• If you have an active Meckel’s diverticulum, having a gastroscopy could increase your risk of perforation as well as the possibility of bleeding after the procedure has been completed. Your doctor will let you know how much risk is involved based on your medical history.
• If you have a hiatal hernia, this test may be uncomfortable because the gastroscope will have to pass through that area. Your doctor can try to prescribe medications or an antacid that might help, but it’s typically something every patient has to experience themselves.
• There are other risks involved, like perforation of the esophagus, which is why your doctor will need to thoroughly assess whether or not you can proceed with the exam. This is also why they may use sedatives and medication beforehand so patients who are very nervous can still receive treatment safely.

Most of these potential side effects are now avoidable since doctors use advanced endoscopic techniques like balloon enteroscopy, which can visualize specific areas and allow doctors to pass the gastroscope through the esophagus in a non-surgical way.

The Bottom Line

A gastroscopy in Singapore is a valuable diagnostic tool that can detect any abnormalities in the digestive system which may lead to cancer or other life-threatening conditions. This is why it’s important to always consult your doctor and allow them to decide if you need a gastroscopy or not based on your medical history and your current symptoms. To learn more about gastroscopy and related procedures, get in touch with Dr. Ganesh and see also how we may be of help. Call: +65 6255 1234.

Dr Ganesh (General Surgeon in Singapore) – Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, Gastroscopy
Suite 1 #05-23, Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, 38 Irrawaddy Rd, 329563
+65 6255 1234
https://drganesh.sg