Enteroscopy in Kansas City, MO

Prior to your procedure, you will get directions from your Digestive Health Specialists provider about necessary preparations. Many individuals will most likely be cleared to eat normally the day leading up to the enteroscopy. Patients will be instructed not to eat or drink anything after 12:00 a.m. the day of the procedure apart from medications. It is important to adhere to the requirements given to you by our team. There will also be further instructions regarding your medications. In many cases, your medications will be continued as instructed. However, in select circumstances, especially for patients on blood thinners and who are diabetic, specific instructions will be administered.

We will ask you to enter the endoscopy facility 1 to 1.5 hours prior to your enteroscopy procedure. This ensures you're able to fill out paperwork and get prepped for the procedure. You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. An intravenous (IV) catheter will be inserted in your arm so that sedation can be given to you. You will be connected to equipment that will help our team to monitor your heart rate, pulse, oxygen levels, and much more while you're in our care.

Once in your exam room, you will be asked to lie down on your left side on our procedure bed. The IV will then begin. Small amounts of the sedative are given at a time to verify that you do not have an adverse reaction to it and to provide just the amount you need. After the correct amount of medication is achieved, the endoscope will be carefully inserted into your mouth. The scope will be carefully advanced through your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. A small amount of air will be injected through the scope into your gastrointestinal (GI) tract to help your physician see. Any remaining fluid in your upper gastrointestinal tract is removed through the scope. Depending on the findings of your exam, several things can be suggested at the time of the procedure, including biopsies, removal of polyps, and control of bleeding. Once we're done with your procedure, air and remaining fluid are drawn out through the scope. Based on what we find, the exam often takes somewhere between 15 – 45 minutes.

After the exam, the patient is escorted to a separate recovery room to be monitored while the sedation starts to wear off. The amount of sedation given during your enteroscopy and your individual response to the sedation will determine how quickly you wake up, though most individuals are alert enough to be discharged after about 45 – 60 minutes. You will not be allowed to drive for the rest of the day, so you will need to have arrangements made for someone to take you home. You will also be instructed not to work, sign important documents, or do arduous activities for the remainder of the day. Typically, patients are fine to eat and drink as they normally would after their discharge from the endoscopy facility, however, guidelines regarding activities, medications, and eating will be reviewed prior to discharge.

After the enteroscopy exam, your Digestive Health Specialists team will discuss the findings of the procedure with you. Many patients will not remember the results of the exam because of the effects of the sedation medication. It is recommended, if you're able, to have a family member join you with whom the results can also be discussed. You will also go home with a report. You will be given any biopsy results within about one week.