Endoscopy (visual examination of a bodily canal or hollow organ)

What is an endoscopy?

An endoscopy is an examination of internal structures using a flexible viewing endoscope (a long tube with a small camera on its end). When passed orally, it is used to view structures from the esophagus to the duodenum (entrance to small intestine), including the bronchial (entrance to lungs) structures.

It also allows both diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, such as peptic ulcers, polyps, cancers, and blockages of the bile ducts due to stones, inflammation, and tumours.

An endoscopy assesses how well your digestive system works. An endoscopic ultrasound may also help create images of hard-to-reach organs, such as your pancreas, liver and lymph nodes. It can allow the physician to biopsy hard to reach areas.

At Horizon, our team of health care professionals offer endoscopy services to help patients who have problems with their digestive system.

There are many different types of endoscopies performed at hospitals across Horizon, including (but not limited to):

  • 24-hour pH monitoring
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Capsule endoscopy
  • Double balloon endoscopy
  • Endoscopic bronchial ultrasound (EBUS)
  • Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
  • Fibroscan
  • RFA (Radio frequency ablation for Barrett’s)
  • Colonoscopy
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
  • Esophageal motility studies
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy
  • Gastroscopy
  • Sigmoidoscopes without sedation

Gastroscopes and colonoscopes are the most common endoscopic procedures and are performed at many community hospitals, while more specialized procedures are performed at regional hospitals. Talk to your primary care provider about where your procedure might take place.

The NB Colon Cancer Screening program is now available province wide.

New Brunswickers aged 50-74 are invited by mail to participate in the program.

To request the simple at-home test, individuals must answer and return the questionnaire to the program. This will help to determine whether the at-home test is the right screening test for them.

For more information, please refer to the  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Any questions regarding cancer screening, please call 1-844-777-3443.

How is endoscopy performed?

An endoscopy helps diagnose problems such as heartburn, trouble swallowing, vomiting, bleeding, blood in the urine, and abdominal pain. An endoscopy can diagnose and determine the stage inflammatory bowel disease. A small piece of tissue (biopsy) may be collected for further examination.
Gastroscopes and colonoscopes are the most common endoscopic procedures and are performed at many community hospitals, while more specialized procedures are performed at regional hospitals. Talk to your primary care provider about where your procedure might take place.

Endoscopy involves passing an endoscope through your mouth, nose, anus, or bladder to look inside your body or hollow organs. The endoscope transmits an image to a screen, so the specialist can examine these organs.

You will be lying on your left side and offered medication to make you relaxed and sleepy. You may feel a bit of discomfort during the endoscopy.

The procedure generally takes no more than 30 minutes and complications are rare. You may be in the clinic for up to two hours for preparations, and to allow for the medication to wear off.

You must go home with a responsible adult (a friend or relative) by private vehicle or by taxi (the taxi driver is not responsible for you). A responsible adult must stay with you for 24 hours after your procedure.

Our nurses will contact your responsible adult when you are ready to be discharged.

The procedure may be cancelled if appropriate post-procedure arrangements aren’t in place. Responsible adult must be present.

The health care team involves registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, gastroenterologists, surgeons, and support staff.

Results and specialist interpretation will then be shared with your family physician or primary health care provider.

How do I access this service?

If you are concerned about your digestion, bladder or breathing, please talk with your primary health care provider. You may be referred for an endoscopy or other tests or procedures. They may recommend an endoscopy procedure to investigate symptoms, diagnose for diseases and conditions, or treat problems in your digestive system by passing tools through the endoscope.

How do I prepare for an endoscopy?

  • Talk to your primary care provider about what you can expect.
  • Bring your Medicare card and a list of all medications.
  • Wear loose-fitting comfortable clothing.
  • Do not wear jewelry or perfumes/colognes.
To prepare for your endoscopy, bring your Medicare card and a list of all medications, wear loose-fitting comfortable clothing, and do not wear jewelry or perfumes/colognes.

What will happen after my procedure?

You will be allowed to return home on the day of your procedure if your health care team decides you are well enough to go. Most people are ready to return home the same day. For you to go home safely we advise you that:

1. A responsible adult must take you home. If you go home by taxi you must have an adult with you, not just the taxi driver.

2. You must have a responsible adult with you for 24 hours.

3. You must not drive any motor vehicle or operate any machine with a motor for 24 hours after your surgery / procedure. This is important for your safety and the safety of others. You may be “legally impaired” if stopped by police or if in a traffic accident.

4. You must not use alcohol, recreational drugs, sedatives and potentially sedating drugs (such as cough medicine) for 24 hours after your surgery / procedure.

5. You must not go back to work or school until 24 hours after your surgery / procedure.

6. Keep away from any dangerous machinery (example, chain saws) for 24 hours after your surgery / procedure.

7. Take extra care in any situation that could be dangerous such as crossing the road, or going up and down stairs after your surgery / procedure

8. Your judgment may be less than your normal for next 24 hours. Do not make any important decisions such as signing legal papers, cheques, etc.

9. Go to the Emergency Department or call 911 immediately if you experience any shortness of breath, dizziness or other complications. Do not drive yourself.

Clinic E is located in Ambulatory Care at the Moncton Hospital

Each year, more than 14,000 procedures are performed at the clinic, serving patients from all over New Brunswick, northern Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

This clinic performs a variety of different endoscopic procedures or procedures that use a small flexible scope with a camera to examine different parts of the body. See the link below for a full list of the procedures performed at this clinic.

These procedures are performed by a variety of different doctors including: gastroenterologists, general surgeons, urologists, and respirologists.

Appointments for the clinic are booked through your specialist’s office. If you have an appointment booked at this clinic and you need to cancel or change it, please contact your specialist’s office directly. Please give at least a 72-hour notice so that another patient can be booked in your place.

If you have questions about the preparation instructions that your doctor provided you, please contact your specialist’s office.

If you will be required to take sedation for the procedure, you must bring a responsible drive, as you are not allowed to drive until the next day, or work until the next day.  

  • You may not walk, or bike home, nor take a bus. You may take a taxi if you have a responsible adult to go with you.
  • Your drive must come into the clinic to get you; you may not walk out to the doors to meet them.
  • If your drive does not stay in the clinic with you, you may give us their number, but they must keep their phone on, and please make sure they are aware the caller ID shows “PNB” or “private number”, so they will answer the call.
  • If you do not have a drive, your procedure will be done with no sedation, or it may be cancelled.

Bring your Medicare Card to your appointment.

Bring all the medications that you take: inhalers, pills, patches, vitamins, minerals, prescribed, and non-prescribed, even if you have already given a copy to your physician.

Clinic E is open Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you need to contact the clinic, please call 857-5270.

You are asked to arrive at the time given to you by your specialist.

Arriving earlier is acceptable, but does not mean that your procedure will be done earlier. Each patient is taken in the order in which they are booked.

There are several physicians seeing patients. You may see someone who arrived after you did being taken before you. They are probably booked to see a physician other than yours, and you are not going to be seen out of order.

Expect to be here anywhere from 1-3 hours. We do our best to get each patient done on time, but emergencies occur and patients ahead of you in the schedule may be more complicated than anticipated. This can cause a delay in your procedure time. Your patience is appreciated and your procedure will be done as soon as possible.

Reminders

Bring your Medicare Card to your appointment.

Please do not wear perfume or cologne to your appointment. We are a scent-free facility.

Bring all the medications that you take: inhalers, pills, patches, vitamins, minerals, prescribed, and non-prescribed, even if you have already given a copy to your physician.

Check with your doctor if you are taking blood thinners.

It is normally alright to take your medications in the early morning of your procedure, but please check with your specialist when your appointment is booked.

If you are a diabetic, check with your doctor to see how much of your diabetes medication he/she wants you to take.  It is advisable for diabetics to check their blood sugar on their home monitor prior to arrival.

If you have any questions about your test, please contact your doctor’s office that booked the appointment. The clinic is unable to reschedule your appointment, or to cancel it, please call their office. If you need to cancel, please give 72 hours so someone can be booked in your place.

If you will be required to take sedation for the procedure, you must bring a responsible drive, as you are not allowed to drive until the next day, or work until the next day.

  • You may not walk, or bike home, nor take a bus. You may take a taxi if you have a responsible adult to go with you.
  • Your drive must come into the clinic to get you; you may not walk out to the doors to meet them.
  • If your drive does not stay in the clinic with you, you may give us their number, but they must keep their phone on, and please make sure they are aware the caller ID shows “PNB” or “private number”, so they will answer the call.
  • If you do not have a drive, your procedure will be done with no sedation, or it may be cancelled.

Arriving at Clinic E

You will be greeted by our Clerks, and asked for your Medicare card. They will give you a number and that number will be used to call you to register and by the staff when they bring you in to do your admission. Please listen for your number to be called.

Once the staff has a clean bed ready, you will be brought into our Observation Unit, and asked a number of questions to obtain a medical history.

We have staff fluent in both English and French, but if you speak another language, please bring someone who can help us translate for you.

Horizon locations offering this service:

Facility Name Address Phone
The Moncton Hospital 135 MacBeath Ave., Moncton, New Brunswick, E1C 6Z8 506-857-5111

Facility Name Address Phone
St. Joseph's Hospital (Saint John) 130 Bayard Dr., Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L 3L6 506-632-5555
Saint John Regional Hospital 400 University Ave., Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L 4L2 506-648-6000
Charlotte County Hospital (St. Stephen) 4 Garden St., St. Stephen, New Brunswick, E3L 2L9 506-465-4444
Sussex Health Centre 75 Leonard Dr., Sussex, New Brunswick, E4E 2P7 506-432-3100

Facility Name Address Phone
Hotel-Dieu of St. Joseph (Perth-Andover) 10 Woodland Hill, Perth-Andover, New Brunswick, E7H 5H5 506-273-7100
Upper River Valley Hospital (Waterville) 11300 Route 130, Waterville, New Brunswick, E7P 0A4 506-375-5900