Can I eat normally on the day of a gastric biopsy?

Under normal circumstances, patients usually cannot eat regular meals on the day of a gastroscopic biopsy. They must remain fasting before the procedure and should follow medical advice regarding when to resume eating and what types of food to consume afterward. The details are as follows:

A gastroscopic biopsy must be performed on an empty stomach because excessive stomach contents may cause vomiting when the endoscope is inserted, increasing the risk of food aspiration. In addition, residual food in the stomach can obstruct clear visualization, potentially leading to inaccurate diagnostic results. Therefore, on the day of the gastroscopic biopsy, if the procedure has not yet been performed, eating regular meals is generally not allowed. After the biopsy, patients should not eat immediately. They must wait until the anesthetic drugs have fully metabolized and the numbness or discomfort in the throat has completely subsided before cautiously starting with small sips of water and light foods. Gastrointestinal function requires time to recover after the examination; thus, patients should maintain regular meal patterns, eat small amounts frequently, primarily consume liquid or soft foods, and avoid placing excessive burden on the gastrointestinal tract.

Additionally, patients should pay attention to maintaining regular dietary habits, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and abstain from alcohol consumption to promote recovery.