Enteroscopy in Baton Rouge, LA

Prior to your enteroscopy, you will be given pre-op instructions from your Gastroenterology Associates gastroenterologist about the essential steps you need to take before your enteroscopy. Most individuals will be cleared to eat like normal the day prior to the procedure. Patients will be told not to eat or drink anything after midnight, aside from medications. It is critical to adhere to the directive provided by your GI specialist. You will also receive additional information about your medications. In most instances, your medications can be continued per usual. However, in select circumstances, particularly in patients who take blood thinners and in diabetics, special instructions will be given.

You should arrive for your enteroscopy about 1 to 1.5 hours ahead of time. This ensures you're able to fill out patient forms and prepare. You will be asked to switch into a hospital gown. An IV catheter will be inserted in your arm so that sedation can be given to you. You will be connected to equipment that will allow your provider to monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, pulse, breathing, oxygen levels, and more during and after the exam.

Once in the exam room, we'll have you lie on your left side on our procedure bed. The sedation will then begin. Small amounts are given at a time to ensure you won't have an adverse reaction to the medication and to give you only the amount you need. After the right level of sedation is reached, the endoscope will be gently inserted into your mouth. We will carefully advance the scope through the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. A small amount of air will be injected through the scope into your gastrointestinal (GI) tract to help your provider see. Any remaining fluid in the upper GI tract is suctioned out through the scope. Depending on the findings of your exam, several procedures or treatments can be done at the time of your enteroscopy, like removal of polyps, biopsies, and control of bleeding. Once we're done, air and remaining fluid are suctioned out via the scope. Depending on the findings, the procedure often takes somewhere between 15 – 45 minutes.

Once the exam is done, you will be transferred to a separate recovery room to be supervised while the sedation starts to wear off. The amount of sedation used during your exam and your individual reaction to the medication will dictate how quickly you come to, though many patients are alert enough to be discharged after about 45 – 60 minutes. You cannot drive for the remainder of the day; therefore, you will need to have someone take you home. You will also be instructed not to work, sign important papers, or do strenuous activities for the remainder of the day. Most patients are fine to eat and drink as normal after being released from the endoscopy center, however, specific instructions about activities, eating, and medications will be provided before discharge.

After the enteroscopy, your Gastroenterology Associates team will discuss the outcome of the procedure with you. Most people will struggle to remember the results of the exam because of the effects of the sedation, so it is recommended to have a family member join you when we go over these results. You will also go home with a typed report. You will be provided with any biopsy results after about seven days.