Double endoscopy under anaesthetic

[JanesSadLittleLife]

I've been referred to a gastrologist and he is booking me in for an endoscopy at both ends! This is being done privately as I'm fortunate enough to have insurance through work. At the appointment I told the (very kind) consultant that I was frightened of the upper endoscopy and have avoided one for 30 years, but also that I have previously reacted badly to fentanyl which they use for sedation.

For my last anaesthetic for a minor/short op I had propofol + alfentanil - no gases, morphine or fentanyl - and had no lasting effects from that. So he offered me a full anaesthetic instead of just sedation, which I gratefully accepted.

I'll still have to do the full bowel prep obviously, got that to look forward to.

I wondered if many people get to have a full anaesthetic for this, and how it works for the upper endoscopy - how do they manage your breathing if they have to put a camera down? I guess they must keep the propofol super light?

Anyone had it done with more than sedation?

In the NHS it’s only done for patients with very specific issues/ needs. Mainly because it requires an anaesthetist to be present, and they are busy enough people without adding endoscopy lists to their workload. So you are able to access this more easily because your going private.

Your airway will probably still be managed by the normal monitoring and positioning used in sedation. Its just that the anaesthetist will monitor it (instead of a nurse) and may use extra monitoring machines to watch your vital signs. It’s deeper sedation than the midazolam they normally use in Endoscopy, but it’s still not a G.A.

That's good to know, thanks. Yes I appreciate that it's not typically done that way, in fact I haven't even checked that my insurer will pay for that - maybe they won't.

It has been a few weeks so I guess they had to wait for a gap in the anaesthetist's schedule (the consultant said he had someone he used regularly).

I had a quick Google and learned that propofol is often used as heavy sedation and is not a GA, so thanks - I've learned something today.

I had a colonoscopy under GA recently. Mine was due to previously failed attempts under sedation. My bowel was adhered to my womb due to endometriosis and they couldn't get the scope round whilst I was conscious because of the pain

I don't remember anything at all, unlike sedation when I remember everything. I didn't have an endoscopy so can't advise on that one

A GA endoscopy will be just that, and usually intubation to manage airway/breathing. HTH.