You have been told you need an upper endoscopy procedure in Lagos. Maybe you have had persistent heartburn, stomach pain that won’t settle, or your doctor found something on a blood test that needs investigating. Whatever brought you here, the natural next question is: what is actually going to happen?
This article walks you through an upper endoscopy from start to finish — before you arrive at the clinic, through the procedure itself, and into recovery. No vague language, no overly clinical explanations. Just a clear, honest account of what to expect, so you can arrive prepared and confident.
What Is an Upper Endoscopy Procedure in Lagos?
An upper endoscopy — also called a gastroscopy or EGD (oesophagogastroduodenoscopy) — uses a thin, flexible tube called a gastroscope to examine the inner lining of the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum. At the tip of the gastroscope is a high-definition camera that transmits live images to a monitor. The gastroenterologist uses these images to identify ulcers, inflammation, polyps, cancer, and other abnormalities — and can take biopsies or treat problems during the same procedure.
It typically takes 15 to 30 minutes and is performed under sedation. Most patients have little or no memory of it afterwards.
Before the Procedure: What You Need to Do
Fasting
The single most important preparation requirement is fasting. You must not eat or drink anything — including water, tea, or coffee — for at least 6 to 8 hours before your appointment. An empty stomach is essential for two reasons: it gives the endoscopist a clear, unobstructed view of the stomach lining, and it significantly reduces the risk of aspiration — inhaling stomach contents into the lungs — during sedation.
If you accidentally eat or drink before your appointment, contact the clinic as soon as possible. The procedure will likely need to be rescheduled, as proceeding with a full stomach creates a genuine safety risk.
Medications
Most regular medications can be taken on the morning of the procedure with a small sip of water — but there are important exceptions. Review your full medication list with your gastroenterologist beforehand:
- Blood-thinning medications (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel, rivaroxaban, apixaban): These may need to be paused before the procedure if biopsy, polypectomy, or any therapeutic intervention is planned, to reduce the risk of bleeding. Your doctor will advise on timing.
- Diabetes medications: Fasting changes your glucose management. Your insulin dose or oral hypoglycaemic agents may need to be adjusted on the procedure day. Your care team will give specific guidance.
- Iron supplements: Stop at least 5 days before the procedure — iron coats the mucosal lining and reduces visibility.
Arranging Transport
You will receive sedation during the upper endoscopy procedure in Lagos. By law and for your safety, you cannot drive, operate machinery, or make important decisions for the remainder of the day. Please arrange for a responsible adult to collect you from the clinic and accompany you home. This is not negotiable — the procedure will not proceed if you have not made this arrangement.
On the Day: Arriving at the Clinic
When you arrive at Redus Center for Digestive Health in Lekki, our nursing team will welcome you and complete your admission. This includes:
- Confirming you have fasted as required
- Reviewing your medical history and medication list
- Checking your vital signs — blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation
- Obtaining your informed consent — you will have the opportunity to ask any final questions before signing
- Placing an intravenous (IV) cannula in your arm for the administration of sedation and any other medications
You will change into a hospital gown and settle into the pre-procedure area to wait for your slot. The team will make you as comfortable as possible during this time.
The Procedure: Step by Step
Step 1: Throat Spray
Just before the upper endoscopy procedure in Lagos begins, a local anaesthetic spray is applied to the back of your throat. This numbs the area, reduces the gag reflex, and makes the passage of the scope more comfortable. It tastes slightly bitter and makes the throat feel temporarily numb and odd — this is normal and expected.
Step 2: Sedation
You will receive your sedation through the IV cannula. The medications — typically a sedative (midazolam) and a painkiller (fentanyl) — work very quickly. Within a minute or two, you will feel deeply relaxed and drowsy. Most patients drift into a state where they are not fully asleep but are completely comfortable and unaware of what is happening around them. Your oxygen levels, heart rate, and blood pressure are monitored continuously throughout.
Step 3: Positioning
You will be helped to lie on your left side — the standard position for upper endoscopy, which allows optimal scope passage and reduces aspiration risk. A mouthguard (bite block) is placed between your teeth. This protects your teeth from the scope and protects the scope from being accidentally bitten — not because you might intentionally bite it, but because the muscles of the jaw can contract involuntarily during the procedure.
Step 4: Scope Passage
The gastroscope — a flexible tube approximately 9 to 10 mm in diameter — is gently introduced through the mouthguard and passed into the throat. You may be asked to swallow once, which helps the scope pass the upper oesophageal sphincter. From that point on, the endoscopist controls the scope entirely — you simply need to breathe normally.
The scope is advanced smoothly through the oesophagus, through the lower oesophageal sphincter (the valve between the oesophagus and stomach), into the stomach, and through the pylorus (the outlet of the stomach) into the duodenum. Small amounts of air or carbon dioxide are gently introduced to expand the walls slightly and improve visibility — this may cause a feeling of fullness or mild bloating.
Step 5: Examination
The gastroenterologist performs a systematic, thorough examination of all three sections. The oesophagus is checked for signs of reflux damage, Barrett’s oesophagus, strictures, or varices. The stomach is examined for ulcers, gastritis, polyps, H. pylori changes, and any suspicious lesions. The duodenum is assessed for ulcers and coeliac disease changes.
If any abnormalities are identified, biopsies are taken immediately using small forceps passed through the working channel of the scope. Biopsies are completely painless. If a polyp is found, it can be removed in the same procedure. If a stricture is present, dilation can be performed. If active bleeding is found, treatment can be applied.
Step 6: Withdrawal and Completion
The scope is slowly withdrawn while the endoscopist continues to inspect the mucosal lining. The entire scope passage from mouth to duodenum and back takes 15 to 30 minutes for a standard diagnostic examination. Complex therapeutic procedures may take 45 to 60 minutes.
After the Procedure: Recovery
In the Recovery Area
You are moved to a comfortable recovery area immediately after the procedure. Nursing staff monitor your vital signs and check your level of comfort as the sedation wears off — this typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. You may feel groggy, slightly disoriented, or bloated. All of this is completely normal.
Common Side Effects
Most patients of upper endoscopy procedure in Lagos experience one or more of the following, all of which are mild and short-lived:
- Mild sore throat: The most common side effect. Usually resolves within 24 to 48 hours. Cool fluids and throat lozenges help.
- Bloating and gas: From air introduced during the procedure. Settles within a few hours.
- Drowsiness: From sedation. Resolves within a few hours — do not drive.
- Mild upper abdominal discomfort: Can occur after biopsy or therapeutic intervention, usually resolves within 24 hours.
Your Results
Once you are awake and alert, your gastroenterologist will explain the direct endoscopic findings — what they saw during the examination. If biopsies were taken, the tissue samples are sent to the pathology laboratory and results are available in 3 to 7 working days. A follow-up appointment will be arranged to discuss these results and any recommended treatment or further investigation.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While complications after upper endoscopy procedure in Lagos are uncommon, contact Redus immediately or go to the nearest emergency facility if you develop:
- Severe or worsening chest, throat, or abdominal pain
- Difficulty swallowing that is worse than before the procedure
- Fever or chills
- Vomiting blood or passing black, tarry stools
- Shortness of breath or neck swelling
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be fully unconscious during the procedure?
No — upper endoscopy procedure in Lagos uses conscious sedation rather than general anaesthesia. You are not fully unconscious in the technical sense, but the sedation makes you so relaxed and drowsy that most patients have no awareness of or memory of the procedure. You will not feel pain.
Can I eat normally afterwards?
Your throat may feel numb from the anaesthetic spray for one to two hours after the procedure — avoid eating or drinking until the sensation returns completely, to reduce the risk of accidentally inhaling food or liquid. Once the numbness has resolved, you can start with cool, soft foods and fluids. Most patients return to a normal diet within a few hours.
Do I need someone to accompany me?
Yes, absolutely. Because you receive sedation, you cannot drive or travel alone for the remainder of the day. You need a responsible adult to collect you from the clinic and accompany you home. The procedure will not go ahead if this arrangement has not been made.
How will I know my results?
Direct endoscopic findings will be explained to you or your accompanying adult on the day, once you are awake. Biopsy results take 3 to 7 working days and will be discussed at a follow-up appointment with your gastroenterologist at Redus.
| Ready to book your upper endoscopy in Lagos? Contact Redus Center for Digestive Health, Lekki Phase 1. Call +234 704 084 7895 or visit redushealth.com. |