Upper Endoscopy Specialist

Hal N Buch, MD

Gastroenterology located in Kingston, NY

If you’re having trouble with digestion, swallowing, reflux, or heartburn, turn to Hal N Buch, MD and Marisa Flanagan, FNP-BC for an upper endoscopy. With years of experience performing thousands of endoscopies at their office in Kingston, New York, they’ll help you find the root cause of your problem. Call today to schedule an appointment or book online.

845-331-8146

Upper Endoscopy Q & A

What is an endoscopy?

Dr. Buch performs an endoscopy to look at the inner workings and lining of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. He performs the procedure with an endoscope, a tiny camera on a long, flexible rod. The camera sends back pictures along the path of your digestive system that he uses to look for inflammation, ulcers, tumors, and other problems.

What is an upper endoscopy?

Also known as an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), an upper endoscopy is a procedure Dr. Buch relies on to look at the upper part of your digestive system, such as your esophagus, stomach, and the top part of the small intestine, also called the duodenum.

An upper endoscopy is the go-to test to learn why you may be bleeding in your upper GI tract and is more specific than an X-ray if an ulcer or tumor is suspected.

What can I expect during an upper endoscopy?

For the best results, Dr. Buch advises that patients refrain from eating or drinking for about eight hours before the test. The caring team makes sure you’re completely comfortable while Dr. Buch sedates you.

He’ll send an ultra-thin scope down your throat, through your esophagus and stomach, and into your lower large intestine. The scope has a small camera that transmits pictures back to a computer in the surgical center. The pictures help Dr. Buch and his nurse practitioner evaluate the health of your upper GI tract.

What is an upper endoscopy with the Bravo test?

The Bravo test helps Dr. Buch determine how much acid from your stomach comes up into your esophagus. The test is administered at the same time as your upper endoscopy. Dr. Buch attaches a minuscule capsule on the wall of your esophagus. For about 48 hours, the capsule records critical information about your digestion and wires it to a monitoring device that you wear on your belt. When the test is complete, the data is sent to a computer to analyze your heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

To learn more about the health of your GI tract, call the office or use the online scheduler to book now.