Upper endoscopy — also called an EGD, short for esophagogastroduodenoscopy — examines the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. A thin, flexible scope passed through the mouth gives your gastroenterologist a direct, magnified view of the upper digestive tract.
Because the scope reaches the tissue itself, an EGD can identify conditions that imaging alone may miss. Small tissue samples can be taken for biopsy during the same procedure when needed.
An upper endoscopy answers a question you already have — a symptom that needs explaining. Unlike colonoscopy, it isn't used as a routine screening test.
What upper endoscopy is used for
- Persistent heartburn or acid reflux that isn't responding to medication
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing
- Upper abdominal pain, ongoing nausea, or vomiting
- Suspected ulcers in the stomach or duodenum
- Unexplained anemia or signs of upper GI bleeding
- Diagnosis and monitoring of celiac disease or Barrett's esophagus
How to prepare
Preparation is straightforward: fasting for a set period beforehand, so the stomach is empty and the lining can be clearly seen. No bowel preparation is required — that's only for colonoscopy. Your physician's office will give you exact timing, and will advise on adjusting any medications, particularly blood thinners or diabetes medications.
What to expect
Upper endoscopy is an outpatient procedure performed under sedation administered by a board-certified anesthesia team. The procedure itself is typically brief — often 15 to 30 minutes — and most patients rest through it and remember little to none of it. Your throat may feel slightly scratchy afterward, which passes quickly.
Because of the sedation, you'll need a responsible adult to drive you home, and you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Most patients return to normal activity and eating the next day.
Your results
Your physician can often share initial findings once you're awake. If a biopsy was taken, the tissue goes to pathology, with those results typically following within one to two weeks through your physician's office.
Colonoscopy or upper endoscopy?
The two procedures use similar tools but examine opposite ends of the digestive tract, and answer different questions. Upper symptoms — reflux, swallowing, stomach pain — point toward an EGD. Lower symptoms and routine cancer screening point toward colonoscopy. Sometimes both are done in a single sedation session. Read the full comparison →