Do you need a referral for upper endoscopy?

Some facilities first arrange a gastroenterology consultation, while others accept a procedure request from a primary care doctor or specialist. Call the endoscopy unit to confirm its requirements; the team also needs to decide how urgently the examination should be scheduled.

Upper endoscopy, also called gastroscopy or OGD, uses a flexible camera to examine the oesophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine. It may investigate swallowing problems, bleeding, persistent upper abdominal symptoms, abnormal imaging, or a condition that needs monitoring.

The referral explains the clinical reason for the test and alerts the unit to relevant medical issues. The endoscopist decides whether upper endoscopy is suitable, whether tissue samples may be needed, and what sedation or other preparation should be discussed.

Provide a symptom history, prior endoscopy and biopsy reports, relevant scans or blood results, and an up-to-date list of medicines and allergies. Specifically flag blood-thinning medicines, diabetes medicines, pregnancy, breathing or heart conditions, and previous problems with sedation.

Follow the unit's fasting and medicine instructions exactly once issued. Do not change prescribed treatment on your own. If sedation is planned, ask beforehand about transport home and whether someone should stay with you afterward.

Seek emergency care if you vomit blood, pass black tar-like stools with weakness or dizziness, faint, develop severe chest or abdominal pain, or cannot breathe or swallow saliva. These red-flag symptoms require prompt assessment rather than waiting for an outpatient referral.

Arrange timely medical review for progressive swallowing difficulty, repeated vomiting, unexplained weight loss, persistent upper abdominal pain, or signs of anaemia such as unusual breathlessness and fatigue. These features have several possible causes and require clinical evaluation.

Ask what question the examination is intended to answer, whether biopsies are anticipated, which medicines need specific instructions, what sedation choices are available, when results will be explained, and whom to contact if symptoms change before the appointment.