A gastroscopy is necessary in the case of persistent upper abdominal pain, acid reflux, difficulty swallowing, non-specific diarrhoea and in cases of a suspected ulcer or a tumour of the stomach.

A colonoscopy is recommended as a preventive check-up for bowel cancer starting from the age of 50, or as early as before the age of 20 if there have been occurrences of colorectal carcinoma in family members. In addition, it is also advisable if there is blood in the stools (positive haemoccult test), noticeable mucus in stools, and unspecific changes in bowel movements (alternating constipation and diarrhoea). It is also required to look for tumours in the case of non-specific weight loss or metastases of an unknown primary tumour, in suspected chronic inflammatory bowel disease, non-specific persistent abdominal problems and in follow-up examinations after surgery for colorectal cancer or the removal of polyps.

For gastroscopy you must stop eating and drinking from six hours before the examination. A special preparation is not necessary. You can take your personal medications (blood pressure medication or others) with a small sip of water during the day of the examination. But be careful with medication that interferes with the blood coagulation system.

Medication to thin the blood or inhibition of platelet function must usually disconntinued prior to gastroscopy or replaced by (heparin) injections under the skin temporarily. Please let me know early if you are taking such medication in order to take the right measures.

Please bring along the information sheet and the informed consent form that you have received in advance for this examination.

Before gastroscopy a venous access is placed on the arm, through which you get a sleep abutting drug. You will not notice the insertion of the endoscope nor of the actual examination. The examination itself takes about ten to fifteen minutes, depending on whether tissue samples are taken. After the examination you will stay for about an hour for observation in the recovery room. A temporary bloating in the stomach area is normal after the examination and usually disappears soon.

Please note that it is not permitted on the day of examination, to drive a car yourself or operate machinery.

For the colonoscopy a special bowel preparation to clean the intestine is necessary. From three days before the examination you should eat low-fibre diet.

One day before the study the bowel cleansing is carried out by a special oral solution (two to four litres, depending on the preparation). It begins on the afternoon prior to the examination. Once you have started taking the oral solution, please avoid eating any solid food. Clear liquids (water, soup, fruit juices without pulp, tea) are allowed. Please do not drink milk. Stay in range of a free toilet during the time of bowel cleansing.

At the beginning of the study to get a sedation. Therefore, you must not eat anything from six hours before the examination. But you can drink up to 250mls of clear liquids (tea, water) before the examination up to two hours. You can take your daily medication with a small sip of water during the day of the examination.

Medication to thin the blood or inhibition of platelet function must usually discontinued prior to gastroscopy or replaced by (heparin) injections under the skin temporarily. Please let me know early if you are taking such medication in order to take the right measures.

Please bring along the information sheet and the informed consent form that you have received in advance for this examination.

Before the colonoscopy, a venous access is placed on the arm, through which you get a sleep abutting drug. You will not notice the insertion of the endoscope nor of the actual examination. The examination itself takes about fifteen to thirty minutes, depending on whether tissue samples taken or polyps are removed. During the investigation, your heart rate and breathing are constantly monitored. After the examination you will stay for about an hour for observation in the recovery room. A temporary bloating of the abdomen is normal after the examination and usually disappears soon.

Please note that it is not permitted on the day of examination, to drive a car yourself or operate machinery.