Endoscopy is a procedure that is considered very safe. The term ‘endoscopy’ is actually an umbrella term that encompasses several types of procedures (upper and lower endoscopy) that examine your digestive system. At Direct Endoscopy, our endoscopy procedures include gastroscopy (upper GI endoscopy), colonoscopy (lower GI endoscopy) and capsule endoscopy (examination of small bowel).
The risks associated with endoscopy procedures are all extremely rare, but may vary slightly depending on whether additional procedures are required during the endoscopy, such as taking a small tissue sample (biopsy), removing polyps (abnormal tissue growth), and stopping bleeding from ulcers.
Rare complications include:
Perforations or tears in the gastrointestinal tract (particularly if removing a polyp)
Bleeding (particularly if removing a polyp)
Infections
Allergic reaction to anaesthesia
Your doctor will be able to provide you with more accurate information about any risks you should be aware of for your endoscopy procedure.