Do I need to fast before the endoscopy exam?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Le Van Quang - Ear, Nose Throat Doctor - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital. BSCKI. Le Van Quang is an expert in the field of ENT with 15 years of experience.

Throat endoscopy is a modern technique used by ear - nose - throat specialists to observe the back of the patient's throat. Through that, the doctor can diagnose diseases related to the throat area most accurately.
This technique uses a very soft endoscope, with cameras and specialized glasses attached at both ends of the tube, thereby helping the doctor to observe and detect lesions and abnormalities in the nose, throat, larynx and cord. larynx (if any).
Throat endoscopy helps to detect diseases such as sinusitis, nasal septum spines, nasopharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer,... The accurate detection of the disease will help doctors come up with a timely treatment plan. time, prevent the disease from developing, becoming more serious.

Throat endoscopy can be performed when the patient has the following symptoms:
Nosebleed, sore nose, .. Hoarseness, prolonged cough accompanied by shortness of breath. Have VA: stuffy nose on both sides, have to breathe through the mouth, spit green sputum. When you have symptoms of sinusitis such as headache, stuffy nose, runny nose, constant sneezing, difficulty breathing, etc. Have had ear, nose and throat diseases. There are deformities in the nose, bone cavities.

Before conducting a throat endoscopy, the patient will be given supportive measures for the endoscopy process such as:
Injecting drugs to reduce saliva production, limit cough. Inhale anesthetic for about 10 minutes, spray anesthetic into the throat to make the endoscopy process easier, more effective and minimize discomfort when the endoscope is inserted inside the patient. . After that, the patient sits back in the chair, the doctor will perform the operation of inserting the endoscope into the nose, down the throat to look inside the nose and throat.
Normally, the process of endoscopic pharyngoscopy lasts about 5 - 10 minutes depending on the location to be observed.

In order to ensure that the endoscopy process can take place easily and effectively, to avoid vomiting during the endoscopy, and not to affect the airways, the patient is advised not to eat anything within 4 hours before the endoscopy. during pharyngoscopy.
For patients who are using drugs to treat chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart failure, chronic lung disease, ... can still use drugs as usual. The medicine should be taken with a small sip of water and taken at least 1 hour before the endoscopy. You should also talk to your doctor about your medical condition before undergoing an endoscopy.
Notes during throat endoscopy to prevent complications, during endoscopy, patients must follow the doctor's instructions and do the following:
Need to focus, sit still, do not be moved or rotated suddenly. For children: need a guardian to coordinate with a doctor. It is necessary to explain so that the child can prepare psychologically and cooperate during the procedure. After the endoscopy, the patient should note the following:
Need to rest, have a scientific and healthy diet as advised by the doctor. Follow your doctor's instructions. After endoscopy, the patient may feel a slight burning pain in the throat, ... this symptom will disappear after 1-2 days.

Throat endoscopy is a method of examining directly through the nose - throat with high safety. This technique is also not too complicated, the time is also relatively quick and leaves few complications.
Throat endoscopy technique uses a soft endoscope with small size and is performed by qualified and experienced doctors, along with a system of modern equipment. Therefore, you can rest assured that the endoscopy process will take place quickly, gently, without pain and without affecting your health.
However, there are a few cases that after a throat endoscopy, the patient may experience some discomfort such as:
Difficulty swallowing Feeling stuck in the throat Spitting up blood The cause is usually due to mucosal damage or when endoscopic lesions were detected, the doctor took a biopsy sample, or removed polyps, removed seeds, cut water cysts or removed foreign bodies,... But these symptoms will quickly disappear. about 2 hours after endoscopy. When experiencing the above abnormal symptoms, you can talk to a specialist for a clear and detailed explanation.
That's why people should not be too worried, need to stay calm, optimistic mentality, the endoscopy process will take place smoothly and achieve the highest results.

Within 1 hour after throat endoscopy: patients need to fast, only drink cold sugar tea or cold milk or water. Absolutely do not drink colored drinks, stimulants. The patient will then be observed for an additional 1 hour. If the patient does not feel uncomfortable or nauseous, they can eat soft and liquid foods such as porridge, soup, and soup. These dishes will not cause any obstruction or discomfort to the throat. It should be noted that eating cold food. The following days should use foods as directed by a specialist. It is recommended to increase foods rich in vitamins and minerals into the daily menu. Limit the use of foods and drinks that are harmful to the body and throat such as: spicy, hot foods, foods that are too hard, stimulants, etc. In addition, patients also need to pay attention to hygiene nose and throat properly and regularly, go to the doctor's appointment as scheduled. If abnormal symptoms appear in the nose and throat, they need to be examined immediately to avoid unwanted things happening.
Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only ensures professional quality with a team of leading medical doctors, modern equipment and technology, but also stands out for its examination and consultation services. comprehensive and professional medical consultation and treatment; civilized, polite, safe and sterile medical examination and treatment space. Customers when choosing to perform tests here can be completely assured of the accuracy of test results.