Endoscopy Services

In a bronchoscopy, your doctor looks inside your respiratory tract (lungs and bronchial tree) and takes tissue samples. This is done by inserting a thin flexible tube connected to a video system.

How long will it take?

The test will take approximately 15-20 minutes. You will be given medication to make you relaxed and sleepy. After the procedure you will be in the recovery room for about 45 to 60 minutes. Please allow for a minimum hospital visit of three hours.

If you need to cancel your appointment, call your doctor's office as soon as possible. A cancellation fee may apply if you cancel with less than 48 hours notice.

Can I take my current medications?

You may need to stop taking some medications before this procedure. If you take:

• blood thinners
• insulin or pills for diabetes

Discuss with your physician when to stop taking these medications.

Continue to take all other prescribed medications as usual with a sip of water. Please inform your physician if you have any drug allergies.

How should I prepare?

The day before your procedure:

• Have nothing to eat or drink after midnight.

The day of your procedure:

Follow all the instructions listed below. If you do not follow these instructions, your procedure may be cancelled or delayed.

• Do not eat or drink the day of your appointment.
• Have a responsible adult driver bring you home after your procedure. You cannot operate a car or heavy machinery for the rest of the day.
• Leave all valuables at home. The hospital is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
• Do not wear perfume, cologne or scented creams.
• Remove all nail polish and false nails, as they interfere with patient monitoring.
• Arrive 60 minutes before your booked procedure time.

Bring:

• your health card
• your photo ID
• a list of your medications
• a list of significant past health issues
• an adult interpreter, if needed

After your procedure:

• You may have a mild sore throat
• You may drink cool liquids after one hour, or as instructed
• You may eat and drink hot liquids after two hours, or as instructed
• You should go home and rest for the day
• Breathe deeply throughout the day

Do not do the following until the next morning:

• drive a motor vehicle or operate any machinery
• sign any legal documents
• drink alcohol or use recreational drugs

A colonoscopy allows your doctor to look inside your colon and small bowel. Your doctor will insert a thin flexible tube connected to a video system. This allows the doctor to examine your tissues and lining, take samples and remove polyps if needed.

How long will it take?

The test will take approximately 20-30 minutes. You will be given medication to make you relaxed and sleepy. After the procedure, you will be in the recovery room for about 30 minutes. Please allow for a hospital visit of at least two hours.

If you need to cancel your appointment, call your doctor's office as soon as possible. A cancellation fee may apply if you cancel with less than 48 hours notice.

Can I take my current medications?

You may need to stop taking some medications before this procedure. If you take:

• blood thinners
• insulin or pills for diabetes

Discuss with your physician when to stop taking these medications.

Continue to take all other prescribed medications as usual with a sip of water. Please inform your physician if you have any drug or latex allergies.

How should I prepare?

One week before your procedure:

• Avoid foods with nuts, seeds, or skins (no multigrain bread, tomatoes, strawberries, beans, lentils, etc.)
• Stop any iron supplements

You should continue any other prescription medications.

One day before your procedure:

• If your appointment is the following morning, the day before your procedure you may have a liquid breakfast. Have only clear fluids for the rest of the day (no red fluids).
• If your appointment is the following afternoon, the day before your procedure you may have a small breakfast with no fiber (e.g. white toast, eggs, yogurt, banana). Have only clear fluids for the rest of the day (no red fluids).
• Your colon must be completely clean for the procedure to be accurate and complete. Follow the bowel preparation instructions from your physician.

The day of your procedure:

Follow all the instructions below. If you do not follow these instructions, your procedure may be cancelled or delayed.

• Have a responsible adult drive/bring you home from the hospital. They must come to the Endoscopy Department to collect you after the procedure.
• You are not allowed to operate a car or heavy machinery for the rest of the day.
• Bring an adult interpreter, if needed.
• Leave all valuables at home. The hospital is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
• Do not wear perfume, cologne or scented creams.
• Remove all nail polish and false nails, as they interfere with patient monitoring.
• Arrive 60 minutes before your booked procedure time.

Bring:

• your health card
• your photo ID
• a list of all your medications
• a list of significant past health issues

After your procedure:

• You may have some cramping, gas, bloating or a feeling of being full
• You can start eating normally, as instructed
• You should go home and rest for the day
• You may have a little blood on the toilet paper when you go to the bathroom

Do not do the following until the next morning:

• drive a motor vehicle
• operate any machinery
• sign any legal documents
• drink alcohol or use recreational drugs

FIT is a screening test that checks your stool for tiny drops of blood, which can be caused by colorectal cancer or some pre-cancerous polyps (growths in the colon or rectum that can turn into cancer over time).

What happens if I am FIT-positive?

If you are FIT-positive, you may be referred for a colonoscopy. Please see the section above to learn more.

Questions? Email us at FIT@williamoslerhs.ca.

A gastroscopy allows your doctor to look inside your upper digestive tract (esophagus, stomach and small bowel). Your doctor will insert a thin, flexible tube connected to a video system. This allows them to examine your tissues/lining and take samples.

How long will it take?

The test will take approximately 15-20 minutes. You will be given medication that will make you relaxed and sleepy. After the procedure, you will be in the recovery room for about 30 minutes. Please plan to be at the hospital for at least two hours.

Can I take my current medications?

You may need to stop taking some medications before this procedure. If you take:

• blood thinners
• insulin or pills for diabetes

Discuss with your physician when to stop taking these medications.

Continue to take all other prescribed medications as usual with a sip of water. Please inform your physician if you have any drug allergies.

How should I prepare?

The day before your procedure

If your test is booked in the morning:

• Do not eat after midnight.
• You may have clear fluids up to two hours before your procedure. Do not drink milk.

If your test is booked in the afternoon:

• You may have a light, low-fat snack up to six hours before your procedure.
• You may have clear fluids up to two hours before your procedure. Do not drink milk.

The day of your appointment

The day of your procedure, follow all the instructions listed below. If you do not follow these instructions, your procedure may be cancelled or delayed.

• Have a responsible adult drive/bring you home from the hospital. They must come to the Endoscopy Department to collect you after the procedure.
• You are not allowed to operate a car or heavy machinery for the rest of the day.
• Bring an adult interpreter, if needed.
• Leave all valuables at home. The hospital is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
• Do not wear perfume, cologne or scented creams.
• Remove all nail polish and false nails, as they interfere with patient monitoring.
• Arrive 60 minutes before your booked procedure time.

Bring:

• your health card
• your photo ID
• a list of all your medications
• a list of significant past health issues

If you need to cancel your appointment, call your doctor's office as soon as possible. A cancellation fee may apply for appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice.

After your procedure, you may have:

• a mild sore throat
• gas (you may feel like burping or a feeling of being full)

You should go home and rest for the remainder of the day.

Eating and drinking after your procedure:

• Drink only cool liquids

After a gastroscopy:

• Eat or drink normally one hour after the procedure

After a gastroscopy and dilation:

• Eat a soft diet and drink one hour after the procedure
• Resume a normal diet the next day, or as instructed

After a gastroscopy and esophageal banding:

• Eat a soft diet and drink one hour after the procedure
• Resume a normal diet the next day, or as instructed

Do not do the following until the next morning:

• drive a motor vehicle
• operate any machinery
• sign any legal documents
• drink alcohol or use recreational drugs