Overview
The procedure called gastroscopy involves the placing of an endoscope (a small flexible tube with a camera and light) into the stomach and duodenum to search for abnormalities. Tissue samples may be obtained to check for H pylori bacteria, a cause of many peptic ulcers. An actively bleeding ulcer may also be cauterized (blood vessels are sealed with a burning tool) during a gastroscopy procedure.
Review Date 5/2/2023
Updated by: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.