What Happens the Day of the Procedure:

Front Desk

Upon arrival to the facility you will be asked to fill out a patient information sheet, which includes demographic information, center hours, consent for treatment, release of information and patient rights and responsibilities sheet. The receptionist will apply an armband with your name around your left wrist.

Holding/Discharge Area

You will then be called into the surgery center. If you are having a lower endoscopy or an IRC, you will be asked to remove everything from waist down and put on a gown. If you are having an upper endoscopy there is no need to undress. At this time, you will be asked to complete and sign additional paperwork, including consent for the procedure discussed at your office visit. A GI tech will then ask you a few required questions and connect you to monitors for blood pressure, cardiac rhythm, and oxygen saturation. She or he will also place an oxygen cannula in your nose, in order to administer oxygen during the procedure. A nurse will then perform a nursing assessment, which includes temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure, and she will review your medical history. She will also start an IV preferably in your right hand or arm since you will be lying on your left side. She will administer Robinul in your IV. This medication dries up your secretions and decreases the risk of choking on your saliva during the procedure. Other preparative medications may be given at this time. If you have any questions please feel free to ask the nurse or the GI tech.

Procedure Suite

The doctor will then come in and perform a pre-anesthesia assessment. After speaking with the doctor, you will be asked to lie on your left side and the oxygen will be turned on. Your doctor will then administer a medication that will induce sleep-most likely Diprivan-in your IV line. It may burn slightly. The rest of the procedure will be done while you are in a state called "deep conscious sedation". This is not like general anesthesia; you will be breathing on your own. You should feel no pain and be unaware of the actual test itself. The doctor as well as a GI tech and registered nurse will be in the procedure room with you. At all times, ACLS certified personnel are present.

Recovery Area

After your procedure is completed the doctor will perform a post anesthesia assessment and discharge you to the recovery room. In the recovery room, a registered nurse (RN) will monitor your blood pressure and oxygen saturation. You will remain in this area for approximately 30-40 minutes. The discharge nurse will give you and/or family information on findings and your plan of care, and will discharge you per Dr. Stokes' orders. The doctor is not always able to meet with patients after the procedure-this is why all patients are scheduled for a follow-up office visit or have their progress checked via a telephone call. A nurse will call you between 24-72 hours after the procedure to see how you are doing. If any biopsies were taken, she will call you with these results.

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