Endoscopic Ultrasound

What is an Endoscopic Ultrasound?

Endoscopic ultrasound is a simple outpatient procedure in which your physician examines your esophagus, stomach and small intestine using a long flexible tube with an ultrasound device at the end. The physician may also remove tissue samples (biopsies) or drain fluid from any cysts found using endoscopic ultrasound.

Why Its Done

An Endoscopic Ultrasound is often used as a diagnostic procedure for those with the following symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Abnormal imaging results on CT scan or X-ray
• Tumors or growths on the intestinal tract or nearby organs
• Weight loss

What to expect

To allow for a thorough exam, your stomach should be completely empty. This means that you cannot have anything to eat or drink after midnight the evening before the procedure. You may also need to stop taking any aspirin or blood-thinning medications a few days before the exam.

Afterward, you may feel a temporary mild sore throat. Serious risks are rare, such as bleeding, infection, a reaction to anesthesia, or tears in the intestinal wall. You should not drive or operate machinery for the remainder of the exam day.

Your physician will be able to provide you with additional information before your exam day.

Other Types of Exams

Other types of exams include CAT scans or external ultrasounds and are usually performed prior to receiving an endoscopic ultrasound. Your physician will discuss which type of procedure is best for you.