What does the examination look like?
The examination is performed with a very thin probe (about 1 mm), which is inserted through the nose into the esophagus. The probe is left in this position for 24 hours. The patient is also provided with an appropriate recording device in which he or she indicates the activities or symptoms he or she is performing, e. g. eating a meal, lying down, heartburn, burning, hiccups, coughing, etc. Thanks to this, the doctor assessing the examination may correlate to what extent the patient’s feelings are associated with the withdrawal of content to the esophagus and to what extent with the lack of movement of the esophagus itself. This makes it easier to make decisions about the appropriate treatment of the patient: choosing the right drugs or decisions about the patient’s eligibility for surgery. Gastroscopy is usually recommended before the patient has impedance. The description with the interpretation of the gastroenterologist is ready within 14 days from the examination. Warsaw has a few private institutions performing both tests, but there are few of them – our clinic is proud to say that we work with the most modern equipment in Warsaw.
How to prepare for the examination?
The examination should be carried out on an empty stomach. There are no other restrictions. Usually, drugs inhibiting gastric juice secretion such as proton pump blockers (controloc, emanera, etc. ) or H2 blockers (ranigast) should be discontinued 10-14 days before the examination. However, this should be discussed individually with your doctor – he or she may want to do an examination to assess the effectiveness of your treatment – and then you will not stop taking your medication. After the probe has been set up, it is advisable for the patient to return to the Clinic after an hour to check whether the probe is placed correctly – this will increase the effectiveness of the test.