Gastroscopy and colonoscopy are common procedures used to examine the inside of your digestive tract using a thin flexible camera (endoscope). These help find the cause of symptoms, screen for disease and sometimes treat problems at the same time

A gastroscopy examines the oesophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine called the duodenum. It is also called an upper endoscopy or OGD

• Investigate symptoms such as heartburn, difficulty swallowing, upper abdominal pain or nausea
• Identify the cause of bleeding, anaemia or unexplained weight loss
• Check for ulcers, inflammation, hiatus hernia or coeliac disease
• Take tissue samples (biopsies) or treat problems such as bleeding or narrowing

• Performed under a sedative anaesthetic
• A thin, flexible tube with a camera is passed through the mouth and down into the stomach and duodenum
• Air or carbon dioxide is gently introduced to help the doctor see the lining clearly
• The procedure itself usually takes 5–15 minutes

A colonoscopy examines the entire large bowel (colon) and sometimes the lowest part of the small bowel using a flexible camera passed through the back passage

• Investigate symptoms such as rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habit or abdominal pain
• Screen for bowel cancer or polyps especially if there is a family history
• Follow up previously found polyps or inflammatory bowel disease
• Remove polyps or take biopsies during the same procedure

• Bowel preparation (strong laxative) along with a fluid diet is required to clear out the colon for the procedure
• Performed under a sedative anaesthetic
• A flexible tube with a camera is passed through the anus and guided around the colon
• Air or carbon dioxide is used to gently inflate the bowel for a clear view
• The procedure usually takes 20–40 minutes