Endoscopic Ultrasonography

Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Procedures

An endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) allows your doctor to examine the lining of your esophagus, stomach, and the walls of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. This procedure can also be used to view nearby structures such as the lungs, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

EUS is not a routine procedure. Your doctor will likely only recommend this test if they need to confirm or rule out a diagnosis. It may also be recommended for patients with cancer to view how far the cancer has spread and whether or not treatment has made any progress.

What to Expect for Your EUS Appointment

EUS is an outpatient procedure, meaning you come in for your appointment and leave the hospital or clinic within the same day. The test itself takes an hour, roughly, but you may be at the hospital for several hours for pre-operative preparation and recovery. Sedatives are provided to help you relax, so you will need to have someone drive you home as it will be unsafe for you to operate a vehicle for the next 24 hours.

Your stomach will need to be empty in order for the physician to obtain detailed images. You will need to fast for eight hours before the procedure, avoiding food and drink, including water. Once you have fallen asleep from the sedative, the doctor will insert an endoscope with an attached ultrasound device through the throat or rectum. The doctor will then perform an examination and remove the endoscope.

Your doctor may discuss the results of the EUS with you the same day as the operation or during a follow-up visit. Depending on what was discovered, further treatments may be necessary.