Before endoscopic treatment (both endoscopic resection and non-resection), in addition to the appropriate tests, you will need to fast and abstain from water for a period of time in advance to keep your esophagus and stomach clean. Your doctor will have a preoperative talk with your family to give a series of precautions.
What do I need to do to prepare for endoscopic treatment?
- Fasten for at least 6 hours. It is important to keep the esophagus and stomach clean and free of food debris during endoscopic treatment to ensure clear visualization of lesions on the esophageal mucosa.
- Barium angiography should be performed at least 3 days before endoscopic treatment. After the upper gastrointestinal barium imaging, the barium will adhere to the mucosa of the esophagus and stomach, especially in the area of ulcerative lesions, affecting the doctor’s observation and judgment.
- Endoscopy is an invasive test, therefore, it is important to complete infection screening (hepatitis, syphilis, HIV, etc.) and the results of routine blood and coagulation tests before doing endoscopy.
- The day before your treatment, please stay happy and relaxed and get a good night’s sleep. If you are not sleeping well, consult your doctor to see if you need oral sleep aids to help you sleep.
- If you have been taking medications that affect blood clotting, such as aspirin, clopidogrel (Bolivar), or warfarin, be sure to talk to your primary care doctor ahead of time.
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What do I and my family need to do before treatment?
- Before the procedure, the family needs to sign an informed consent form. The informed consent form should clearly state that the endoscopic treatment you are receiving, the possible complications and consequences. Please read the informed consent form in detail for you and your family and consult your physician if you do not understand anything.
- The surgeon and anesthesiologist will visit the room and give instructions on some preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative precautions that you and your family need to listen to and record carefully. The surgeon will explain in detail to you and your family what the endoscopic treatment you are about to undergo will entail, what the possible outcomes are, and what the risks are. The doctor will also inform you before the procedure of the possible risk of recurrence or metastasis after the procedure and the possibility of other treatments such as additional surgery.
- Many people lack understanding of surgery or endoscopic treatment, which can lead to nervousness and fear. The family should encourage and support him/her to help build confidence.
- Please keep in mind that the patient’s family should never refill your loved one’s meal at night or in the early hours of the morning. Doing so is likely to lead to dangerous situations such as accidental aspiration during surgical anesthesia the next day.
Co-written by:
Dr. Wang Police, Endoscopy Center, Peking University Cancer Hospital