Gastroscopy examination

Patients who choose to undergo a gastroscopy with Dr. Vasco enjoy the following benefits:

1. Dr. Vasco has undergone unique training to identify and remove lesions, his medical ability and experience allow him to quickly understand what type of lesion is, at what stage the lesion is and how to properly manage it
2. The equipment that Dr. Vasco works with is endoscopic equipment with advanced optical capabilities, which means magnification to a microscopic level, and viewing in Full HD resolution.
3. An artificial intelligence system that, together with Dr. Vasco, scans the photographed area and provides an additional layer of identification for precancerous lesions.
4. Dr. Vasco was chosen as the Israeli presenter for the world's leading endoscopy knife company, the advanced equipment combined with unique knives enables Dr. Vasco to perform complex excisions
   
   Why is this important?
   
   The combination of a specialist doctor with experience and unique training, along with the advantages of advanced optical equipment that enables optimal identification - accompanied by a layer of artificial intelligence (AI) protection reduces the percentage of missed lesions to 0%
   And heaven forbid if necessary - the use of knives that allow maximum flexibility increases the chances of success of the examination and guarantees the patient the best results.
   

Gastroscopy - general information

What are the common symptoms in patients with gastroscopy problems?

• Pain in the upper abdomen
• Chest pain
• Weight loss
• Difficulty swallowing
• Stuck food
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• heartburn
• Black stools
• Anemia in blood tests
  

If you suffer from any of the listed symptoms, it is recommended to undergo a gastroscopy

It is important to emphasize.
The symptoms in question are symptoms that are repeated in most people with gastroenterology problems, but reading the symptoms is not a substitute for medical advice with a specialist.

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Another reason why it is recommended to undergo a gastroscopy examination is Helicobacter, if Helicobacter is suspected, it is recommended to perform a gastroscopy combined with a biopsy

Helicobacter

In its full name: Helicobacter pylori

A bacterium found in the stomach. It exists in about 60% of the population in Israel. Infection is from person to person (through saliva). Usually does not cause problems and does not need to be treated. Sometimes it can cause symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, stomach or thersarion ulcers and rarely stomach cancer.

Treatment with Helicobacter pylori includes a combination of several antibiotics and an antacid preparation, and there are studies that suggest a combination of probiotics alongside medication.

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How is Helicobacter diagnosed?

Helicobacter can be diagnosed in several ways, including biopsy during gastroscopy, breathalyzer test, blood or feces. Taking a biopsy during gastroscopy is considered a very reliable diagnosis. In addition, there are situations that raise a false negative result for a stool or breathing test, meaning that there is a chance that the result will be negative even though the bacterium is present. These situations are:

1. Treatment with antacids adjacent to the examination
2. Antibiotic treatment adjacent to the examination

Recommendations about Helicobacter

Over the age of 45 - if Helicobacter is suspected due to symptoms of pain, nausea, or anything else aimed at an upper gastrointestinal problem - the recommendation is to undergo a gastroscopy examination and not breath or stool tests
A gastroscopy examination is also recommended if the patient is younger than 45 years of age but suffers from symptoms that may indicate the presence of Helicobacter in the stomach, but a stool test or alternatively the breathalyzer test came out negative and the patient continues to suffer.

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Gastroscopy (or endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract) is an examination used to observe the esophagus in the stomach and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). The test is performed by inserting an endoscope into the patient's mouth. The endoscope is a flexible tube with a diameter of about 1 cm, which contains a light source and a camera.

Inside the endoscope there are working channels that allow pumping, injecting air and water and transferring instruments for various treatments.

• Gastroscopy is an examination that takes an average of about 10 minutes.
• Most subjects prefer to perform the test under sedation, which is administered intravenously before the test.
• You may also receive a local sedation spray for the oral cavity and pharynx prior to the examination.
• After receiving the sedation, a "tooth holder" will be inserted into your mouth, the purpose of which is to keep your mouth open throughout the examination.
• The test is performed lying on the left side. During the test, monitoring devices will be attached to your body to check your heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory activity.
• During the examination, the doctor will observe the esophagus, stomach and duodenum using the screen in front of him. If necessary, biopsies will be taken and sent for histological examination (examination under a microscope).
• Sometimes, treatment will also be performed during the examination, such as stopping bleeding, tying varicose veins, excision of a polyp and more. These treatments do not involve pain.

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Continue taking regular medications for high blood pressure and heart disease on the morning of the test.

• For diabetics – it is forbidden to inject insulin or take another medicine on the morning of the test.
• IF YOU ARE USING CPAP/BPAP RESPIRATORY SUPPORT DEVICES DUE TO NOCTURNAL APNEA OR OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, YOU SHOULD BRING THE DEVICE FOR GASTROSCOPY.
• If you have asthma, it is recommended to take a dose of the inhaler two hours before the start of the test.
• If you have a pacemaker or defibrillator, a visit to the pacemaker clinic is required about two weeks before the gastroscopy is performed. It is necessary to come to the gastroscopy examination with a summary of a visit to the pacemakers' clinic.
• IF YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED TO GASTROSCOPY WITH THE AIM OF TYING VARICOSE VEINS, IT IS MANDATORY TO BRING BLOOD TEST RESULTS: COUNTING AND COAGULATION FUNCTIONS (INR) PERFORMED UP TO ONE MONTH BEFORE THE TEST IS PERFORMED.

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