Gastroscopy (Upper Endoscopy): Examining Your Upper Digestive Tract

Gastroscopy (oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy, OGD) is an endoscopic procedure passing a thin flexible tube with a camera through the mouth, down the oesophagus, into the stomach and duodenum. It allows direct visualisation of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract mucosa, enabling diagnosis of peptic ulcers, gastritis, oesophagitis (from acid reflux), Barrett's oesophagus (a pre-malignant condition), upper GI cancers, coeliac disease, and H. pylori infection (via biopsy).

In Korea, gastroscopy is commonly performed at major hospital gastroenterology departments, private gastroenterology clinics, and many private hospitals. H. pylori — a bacterium causing gastritis and peptic ulcers — has a notably high infection rate in Korea, linked to the country's historically elevated rate of gastric cancer, and gastroscopy with biopsy is the gold standard for H. pylori diagnosis. Eradication therapy (triple or quadruple antibiotic regimens) is highly effective and dramatically reduces ulcer recurrence.

Gastroscopy is performed under conscious sedation (benzodiazepine +/- opioid) or throat spray local anaesthesia — the latter allows same-day driving and is preferred by many patients. A driver is recommended with sedation. The procedure takes 5–15 minutes. Biopsies can be taken during the procedure for H. pylori testing, coeliac disease (duodenal biopsy), or suspected cancer. Therapeutic gastroscopy can also treat bleeding peptic ulcers with injection, clipping, or thermal therapy — a life-saving intervention.