Interdisziplinäre Gastroenterologie u. Kolorektale Chirurgie

Bereichsleiter: Prof. Dr. Siebeck, Prof. Dr. Hallfeldt

Gastroscopy - Endoscopy of the stomach

Gastroscopy is the visual inspection of the stomach by means of a long, flexible tube with a light on its end that must be swallowed by the patient. The stomach needs to be completely empty. Therefore, no solid food should be ingested after 8 pm on the evening before the gastroscopy. No eating, drinking or smoking is permitted on the day of the gastroscopy. Patients with diabetes and gastric outlet obstruction require special instructions.

Rectosigmoidoscopy - Endoscopy of the sigmoid colon (lower large bowel)

A rigid or flexible endoscope is used to look into the anus, rectum, and sigmoid colon. A laxative should be taken on the day before rectosigmoidoscopy, half a bottle of X-Prep® is adequate. To insure an undisturbed night, the laxative should not be administered after 2 pm. Two to three litres of clear fluid should be ingested afterwards to replace the fluid loss. Patients with heart failure, renal disease or bowel obstruction require special instructions.

Colonoscopy – Endoscopy of the entire colon (large bowel) and ileum (ending of small bowel)

A long, flexible and thin endoscope is passed through the anus and is used to look into the colon. Fruits or other food containing full grain or seeds should be avoided one week prior to the colonoscopy. One bottle of a laxative (e.g., X-Prep®) should be taken on the day before the colonoscopy you should drink. To insure an undisturbed night, the laxative should not be administered after 2 pm. Two to three litres of clear fluid should be ingested afterwards to replace the fluid loss. The evening meal should consist merely of liquid, e.g. a clear soup. Upon arrival to the endoscopy unit, further bowel preparation is achieved by drinking a salty solution. Please be aware of the fact that the entire procedure, including bowel preparation and observation after the exam may last until afternoon. Patients with diabetes, heart failure, renal disease or bowel obstruction require special instructions.

ERCP - Endoscopy and X-ray of bile ducts und pancreatic duct

ERCP is performed through an endoscope. A catheter is placed through the endoscope and passed forward into the opening where the bile and pancreas ducts enter the duodenum. Then contrast material is injected. An X-ray is taken during the injection to take images of the ducts. The stomach must be completely empty. Therefore, no solid food should be ingested after 8 pm on the evening before the ERCP. No eating, drinking or smoking is permitted on the day of the ERCP. Patients with diabetes require special instructions. I.v. sedation will be given routinely and surveillance after the procedure is required until afternoon. Also, it is not permitted to drive a motor vehicle afterwards for safety reasons.

We strongly recommend to use public transportation on the day of the examination. An i.v. injection for sedation may be necessary for any of the above procedures, and you will be unable to drive a motor vehicle safely afterwards. Also, car parking facilities are extremely limited near the hospital.

For further inquiries please dial 089-5160 2625 (secretary).

Acknowledgement: Dr. Connie Reininger helped with the translation.