## 1. Gastroscopies cannot be replaced by ultrasound diagnostics The full name for this procedure, which we usually name gastroscopy, is FEGDS (Fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy). During FEGDS, the stomach, esophagus, and duodenum are examined with a gastroscope (a long tube with illumination and a special lens), which is inserted through the mouth. This procedure is not meant to harm the patient at all—it's just that the stomach ultrasound is uninformative and it is simply impossible to identify many diseases without the gastroscopy. Additionally, if the doctor discovers something dubious during the gastroscopy examination and suspects a tumor, he can immediately take a piece of material for histological examination. ## 2. Gastroscopies should be done regularly, even for healthy people Serious stomach diseases, including oncological ones, do not manifest themselves in the early stages. They are often detected too late when the treatment is no longer effective. That is why gastroscopy is recommended for anyone over 30 years of age once a year as part of preventive medicine. An unscheduled procedure is worth going through for people with symptoms such as pain when swallowing, difficulty passing food, heartburn, sudden weight loss, or the presence of blood in the vomit and feces. In the latter case, a colonoscopy will also be required. ## 3. Gastroscopies are fast If the doctor decides to very carefully examine the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum 12, then FEGDS lasts no more than 4–5 minutes. When it comes to sampling neoplasms, the procedure can take up to 10 minutes. ## 4. Gastroscopies can take place under general anesthesia Gastroscopy is a rather unpleasant procedure. In a standard situation, patients are given local anesthesia with lidocaine, and this is sufficient to minimize discomfort. However, people who are overly sensitive, have a pronounced gag reflex, or are not able to cope with fear will undergo anesthesia. If FEGDS and a colonoscopy are planned at the same time, anesthesia is recommended in this situation as well. This is not a deep "anesthesia"—the patient falls asleep for only 15–20 minutes and wakes up easily without any side effects.