Comprehensive endoscopy services including diagnostics, therapeutic and interventional gastroenterology procedures.

An endoscopy is a procedure that allows a specialist to look inside part of your digestive system using a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera. The most common procedures are colonoscopy and gastroscopy. At Allevia Hospitals and the Allevia GI Institute, endoscopy may be used to investigate symptoms such as abdominal pain, reflux, difficulty swallowing, bleeding, changes in bowel habits, low iron, unexplained weight loss or to screen for bowel cancer. It can also help treat some conditions, such as removing polyps or taking biopsies for testing.

Bowel preparation clears stool from your bowel so your specialist can see the bowel lining clearly during your colonoscopy. A clean bowel makes the test more accurate and helps your endoscopist find small polyps or changes that may otherwise be missed. Please follow your preparation instructions carefully and complete the full amount unless your clinical team advises otherwise. 

A colonoscopy examines the large bowel, also called the colon, and is commonly used to check bowel symptoms, polyps, bleeding or bowel cancer risk. A gastroscopy examines the upper digestive tract, including the oesophagus, stomach and first part of the small bowel, and may be recommended for reflux, indigestion, nausea, swallowing problems, anaemia or suspected coeliac disease.

Many endoscopy procedures are performed with sedation to help you feel more comfortable and relaxed. Your specialist or nurse will explain what type of sedation is suitable for your procedure and health needs. If you have sedation, you must arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you as advised, because it is not safe to drive, drink alcohol or make important decisions afterwards.

You will usually need a referral from your GP, specialist or another healthcare provider. Our nurses will triage your referral to determine whether you would be best to see the gastroenterologist prior to booking a procedure, or progress directly to a procedure. One of our team will contact you to book an appointment. When booking, please have your referral letter, private health insurance details if relevant, and a list of your medications ready. Tell the team if you take blood thinners, have insulin-dependent diabetes, a heart or lung condition, an implantable defibrillator, or mobility needs so your care can be planned safely.

Please continue your usual medications unless you have been told otherwise, but make sure your clinical team knows everything you take, including blood thinners such as warfarin, clopidogrel, dabigatran or similar medicines, diabetes and weight-loss  medication, insulin, supplements and over-the-counter treatments. Some medicines may need special instructions before a colonoscopy, gastroscopy or other GI procedure.

Yes. During some endoscopy procedures, your specialist may take small tissue samples called biopsies or remove polyps if it is safe and appropriate. Biopsies are commonly used to help diagnose inflammation, infection, coeliac disease or other digestive conditions. Removing bowel polyps during colonoscopy can also help reduce future bowel cancer risk.

The procedure itself may be relatively short, but your full appointment includes admission, preparation, the procedure, recovery and discharge information. Your total time onsite can vary depending on your procedure and sedation, but will usually be 2-3 hours. You will receive instructions about eating, drinking, activity, transport and what symptoms to watch for after you leave.

If vomiting occurs during the preparation phase, please ring Allevia Endoscopy during office hours as soon as possible and check with nursing staff whether anything further needs to be done. You may need to come into the clinic for further preparation earlier than your booked time. Ginger is a natural anti-nausea product and some patients find ginger ale is beneficial if nauseated.

Clear fluids are anything that can be seen through, i.e. not opaque or cloudy. This does not necessarily mean no colour but highly coloured fluids should be avoided. Examples of clear fluids include: strained chicken noodle soup, black tea, Gatorade, lemonade, ginger ale etc. A more comprehensive list is included on the instruction sheet.

The endoscope is completely cleaned and disinfected between each patient to avoid the risk of transmission of serious diseases such as HIV or hepatitis. There is a small risk of teeth being damaged during a gastroscopy procedure.

Serious complications of gastroscopy and colonoscopy are rare, at less than 1 in 10,000 examinations for gastroscopy and 1 in 3,000 for colonoscopy. However complications can occur and include the following:

• Gastroscopy and colonoscopy are considered to be very accurate tests. However, there is a risk that an abnormality may not be detected.
• Intolerance to the bowel preparation for colonoscopy. Some people develop dizziness, headaches or vomiting.
• Reaction to the sedative. This is very uncommon but is especially of concern in people who have severe heart disease or lung disease.
• Perforation (making a hole in the bowel or upper gastrointestinal tract wall).
• Significant bleeding.

It is possible if these serious complications occur that you may require surgery or a blood transfusion.

Rare side effects can occur with any procedure. Death is extremely rare.

If you wish to have further details please discuss this with your endoscopist before the procedure.

If you have any of the following symptoms in the hours or days after your procedure you should contact Allevia Endoscopy or your doctor's rooms immediately:

• Severe abdominal pain.
• Black tarry motions.
• Persistent bleeding.
• Fever or other symptoms that cause you concern.

The aim of "conscious sedation" is to reduce anxiety, reduce awareness and reduce potential discomfort caused by air being pumped into the bowel. It is not an anaesthetic that is administered.

Each patient has a different experience. The majority of patients do not recall much of their endoscopy.

Patients undergoing colonoscopy sometimes experience a feeling of wind pain or cramp as the endoscope goes around the corners in the bowel. This discomfort is not for the duration of the colonoscopy. It is very important following a colonoscopy to pass the wind that may be trapped in the bowel.

A gastroscopy is not painful. Some patients experience a feeling of being bloated.

You will be at Allevia Endoscopy for up to two hours. When you are ready for discharge, you will be walking and talking but may feel a bit "sluggish". It may be sensible to go home and put your feet up for a few hours. Do not have alcohol on the day of the procedure. It is recommended that you have someone stay with you the night after your procedure.

Following a gastroscopy, you can consume normal diet and fluids after discharge. If you have had a local anaesthetic throat spray, be a bit careful with the temperature of food and fluids for the first two hours as the throat spray does not wear off fully until then.

Following colonoscopy, it is important to drink plenty of fluids as the bowel preparation has a tendency to dehydrate the body. You can resume a normal diet immediately following discharge.

If a sedative has been administered, you may not drive on the day of the procedure. Also, do not operate machinery or make important decisions that day. On the day after the procedure you may resume all normal activity.

Your specialist will usually explain the initial findings before you leave, once you are awake and ready. If biopsies or polyps are sent to the laboratory, those results may take longer. Your specialist or referring doctor will let you know how results will be shared and whether you need follow-up care, further tests or treatment.

Allevia provides private endoscopy and gastroenterology services in Auckland, including Allevia Endoscopy Epsom and the Allevia GI Institute North Shore in Takapuna. Services include colonoscopy, gastroscopy, capsule endoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, ERCP, hydrogen breath testing, gastric alimetry, haemorrhoid banding, iron infusion, oesophageal dilation, PEG insertion and ACNES injections.