Gastroscopy is currently the best method to diagnose gastric and duodenal disorders, especially peptic ulcers and cancer. Although gastroscopy has the advantages of being safe, easy to operate and highly applicable, its safety and correct assessment require the patient’s attention and cooperation. Precautions before examination 1. Try to relax and avoid excessive tension. In general, gastroscopy is a less painful examination method, and the doctor can directly see the situation of the examined organ, which is better than barium X-ray meal examination. It can visually find the lesion, initially determine the nature of the lesion, and if necessary, can also take a small piece of specimen in the lesion area, for pathological examination, under the microscope to see the condition of the lesion cells. 2. If a barium meal examination has been done, the barium may be attached to the gastrointestinal mucosa, especially at the site of ulcerative lesions, making gastroscopic diagnosis difficult, so gastroscopic examination must be done 3 days after the barium meal examination. 3. You should abstain from food and water after 12:00 pm on the night before the examination, and do not eat breakfast in the morning of the examination day. 4. Laboratory tests such as viral hepatitis index should be done before the examination to avoid cross infection. 5. Bring the results of the electrocardiogram (mandatory for those over 60 years old). 6. After entering the examination room, follow the doctor’s instructions, loosen your collar and trouser belt, remove your dentures and glasses, and take a left-sided lying position. Precautions before examination Inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth during the examination; do not swallow the saliva to avoid choking and coughing. After entering the mirror, the body and head should not be turned to prevent damage to the mirror and injury to internal organs. There will definitely be discomfort, such as nausea, abdominal distension, abdominal cramps, which should be tolerated appropriately. If you really cannot tolerate it, you can indicate to the surgeon (doctor or nurse) with hand signals so that necessary measures can be taken. C. Precautions after the examination 1. Saliva should be spit out after the examination. As some air is injected during the examination, although it is sucked out when retiring from the mirror, some people still have obvious abdominal distension and belching more, which is normal. 2. Because of the anesthesia in the pharynx, there will be a foreign body feeling in the throat after the examination, so do not cough violently. 3. Since the anesthesia has not yet worn off, eating too early will make it easier for food to enter the trachea, so do not eat water until one hour after the examination. If pathological examination is performed (the doctor will inform you), you should eat warm and cool semi-liquid or soft food for one day after 2 hours of examination to avoid bleeding caused by rough food rubbing against the gastric mucosal wound. 4. Within 1 to 4 days after the examination, you may feel discomfort or pain in the throat, but it will not affect your diet and you can work as usual.