Endoscopy in Hattiesburg, MS

Your Hattiesburg GI Associates, PLLC specialist will provide you with detailed instructions on how to prepare for your endoscopy procedure. It is vital that you listen to and follow the guidelines your provider gives you to minimize the risk of complications during the procedure. Generally speaking, patients are advised not to take anything by mouth after midnight on the day of their exam except for required medications. Most medications can be continued as prescribed, but you may receive different instructions, depending on your circumstances. Special directions will be provided for patients taking blood thinners and those who are diabetic.

You will need to arrive at the endoscopy center 1 – 1.5 hours before your exam. You will then change into a medical gown. A member of our team will place an intravenous (IV) catheter into your arm, allowing us to administer the sedative for the procedure. You will also be hooked up to various medical devices that will enable our staff to track your vitals — including heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and oxygen levels — throughout the exam and while you're recovering.

After being set up in your test room, you will be directed to lie down on your left side on our exam table. We will begin to administer the IV sedative at this point, using small doses to ensure your safety. Your gastroenterologist will insert the endoscope through your mouth and gently guide it through your upper GI tract, injecting a tiny amount of air to help them see any signs of problems. Based on what they see, they may also use this opportunity to conduct further testing or procedures such as biopsies, widening of the esophagus, or measures to manage bleeding. When the exam is complete, the doctor will again use the scope to suction out as much air and fluid as possible. Depending on what all needs to be done, the full procedure usually takes 15 – 45 minutes.