Enteroscopy in Illinois

Prior to your enteroscopy, you will get orders from your GI Alliance of Illinois GI specialist with essential preparation instructions. Most individuals will be allowed to eat normally the day prior to their enteroscopy but are required not to eat or drink anything after midnight apart from medications. It is imperative to adhere to the guidelines given to you by your gastroenterologist. There will also be additional instructions about your medications. In the majority of cases, your medications will be continued per usual. However, in select circumstances, particularly in individuals on anticoagulants and diabetics, specific rules will be provided.

We will ask you to arrive at the endoscopy center about an hour to an hour and a half prior to your endoscopy. This gives you time to fill out any paperwork and get prepared for the procedure. We will have you change into a medical gown and will insert an IV catheter in your arm to begin administering sedation. From there, we'll connect you to our state-of-the-art equipment which will help us keep track of your heart rate, pulse, oxygen levels, and more.

After entering the exam room, we'll have you lie on your left side. The IV will be started and we'll slowly give you sedation to ensure you don't have an unexpected reaction. Once ready, the endoscope will be placed in your mouth and fed through the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. We'll inject a bit of air into the endoscope so your GI Alliance of Illinois provider can get a better view of your GI tract. If there is any remaining fluid in the GI tract, it will be removed through the scope. Several procedures can be completed during this time, depending on the findings of the exam, including biopsies, removing polyps, and more. Once we're done, we will remove as much air and fluid as we can through the scope. Generally, the procedure can take between 15 – 45 minutes.

Once your exam is complete, you will be taken to recovery to be monitored as you come out of sedation. This could take more or less time depending on how much sedation you needed, but most people are well enough to be discharged after about 45 – 60 minutes. You will need to make arrangements to have a friend or family member drive you home because you cannot operate a vehicle for the remainder of the day. You should not work, sign important documents, or participate in taxing activities for the rest of the day as well. It is okay to eat and drink normally after being released; however, it's important to follow any post-op instructions we give you about eating, medications, and more.

Once your results are available, our team will review the findings with you. You may have difficulty remembering what we go over, so we suggest you have a trusted person with you to help you remember what was discussed. We will also send you home with written documentation of what we went over.