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Indications and contraindications for esophageal endoscopy
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
Indications for esophageal endoscopy
Diagnostic indications: clarification of the localization of the process; visual examination of pathological changes identified during examination, clarification of their prevalence; monitoring the effectiveness of treatment (both conservative and surgical).
Therapeutic indications: removal of foreign bodies, small tumors of the stomach or esophagus; sclerotherapy of varicose veins of the esophagus; stopping bleeding.
Contraindications to esophageal endoscopy
Absolute contraindications: shock, acute cerebrovascular and coronary circulatory disorders, epileptic seizures, asthma attacks, atlantoaxial subluxation, esophageal diseases that make it impossible to pass an endoscope into the stomach or that have an increased risk of perforation (esophageal burn, cicatricial stricture, etc.).
Relative contraindications should be taken into account depending on the expected positive results; such contraindications include the patient's reluctance to undergo endoscopy, coma (unless the patient is intubated), coagulopathy, Zenker's diverticulum, ischemic heart disease, thoracic aortic aneurysm, hypertensive crisis, acute inflammatory diseases of the mouth or nasopharynx, respiratory organs, and the general severe condition of the patient due to the presence of concomitant diseases.
It should be noted that if the patient has a disease that poses a direct threat to life, performing an esophageal endoscopy is absolutely justified. Thus, gastroduodenoscopy should be performed even on a patient with myocardial infarction or acute cerebrovascular accident when gastrointestinal bleeding occurs, both to identify the cause and extent of bleeding and to stop it.
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