What is gastroscopy? Gastroscopy (full name - esophagogastroduodenoscopy) – belongs to endoscopic examination methods (from "endo" - inside, "scopy" - examination). Efforts to examine the body cavities of humans were made in ancient times. In the 1890s, rigid endoscopes were created, in the mid-20th century – flexible fiber optic endoscopes (fibroscopes); current century methods include video endoscopy and capsule endoscopy. Currently, gastroscopy is the most important method for diagnosing diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract. During the procedure, the doctor examines the mucous membrane of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, can obtain biopsy material (for cytological and histological examinations), and sometimes therapeutic procedures are performed during gastroscopy (removal of foreign bodies, stopping bleeding, removing polyps, etc.). Who is prescribed a gastroscopy (EGDS)? This examination is indicated when suspecting various diseases of the esophagus and stomach, as well as for preventative purposes to detect precancerous or early cancerous changes. How to prepare for the examination? Gastroscopy is performed on an empty stomach. The last meal should not be later than 6-7 PM on the eve of the examination. Teeth brushing is allowed on the day of the examination. Removable dentures that do not hold well are recommended to be removed. What medical preparation is conducted before the examination? Before the examination, it is recommended to take special medications to eliminate mucus in the stomach, which hinders and prolongs the inspection. For this purpose, the patient is advised to drink about 3 ml of simethicone emulsion 10 minutes before the examination. Before the examination, the patient undergoes oropharyngeal irrigation with a medical drug that causes numbness in the throat. In some cases, when a patient has a strong gag reflex and anxiety before the procedure, a drug is administered intramuscularly. Our clinic offers the possibility of performing gastroscopy under anesthesia.   The essence of the examination. The patient lies on their left side. Throughout the examination, there is a plastic mouthpiece in their mouth - to not obstruct the advancement of the gastroscope and to prevent damage to the device by teeth. Breathing should be calm, deep. During the examination, the doctor inflates air into the stomach, to better examine it and to straighten out the gastric folds. The duration of the examination, typically, takes several minutes. There is no pain in the stomach during a gastroscopy. What is a biopsy? During the examination, if necessary, the doctor performs a biopsy. For this, thin medical instruments are inserted through the instrument channel of the gastroscope, with which a small piece of the mucous membrane is pinched off. The procedure is painless. Biopsies are taken from ulcers, polyps, of tumors and other formations to specify their nature. **How should one behave after the examination?** After a gastroscopy without a biopsy, eating is allowed after 30 minutes, if a biopsy was taken - the consumption of non-hot food is allowed after 1 hour.