How long does a gastroscopy take?
Disease description:
I have a stomach condition myself, and sometimes I experience severe pain during flare-ups. I am planning to have a gastroscopy to check my health. I would like to ask, how long does a gastroscopy take?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
A standard gastroscopy usually takes about 10 to 20 minutes.
This timeframe covers the entire procedure from insertion of the gastroscope to completion of the examination. If the patient cooperates well and there are no significant abnormalities in the stomach, the examination may be shorter. If procedures such as pathological biopsy or magnified examination are required during the gastroscopy, the duration may be prolonged.
Because anesthesia is required before painless gastroscopy, the total time involved is slightly longer than that of a standard gastroscopy. The preparation and recovery time for anesthesia is approximately 10 minutes, and the actual examination takes about 10 minutes. Therefore, the total time for painless gastroscopy is around half an hour. If additional procedures, such as a biopsy, are required, the duration will also increase accordingly.
Capsule gastroscopy is relatively unique, as patients need to carry the device during the examination. The entire process takes about 24 hours to complete, and hospitalization is generally not required during this period.
