Endoscopy Instructions

Per Inova policy, all patients have to complete a brief health history (One Medical Passport) on line or by phone prior to their procedure. If this is not done before arriving, your procedure will be delayed at the center, which inconveniences you and your ride, and generally makes the process run more inefficiently. Please go to www.onemedicalpassport.com to do this as soon as possible. If you are unable to do this, please call 703-922-0088 and someone may assist you from our pre-op office.

You have been scheduled for an upper endoscopy at the Inova Franconia/Springfield Healthplex (2nd floor, 6355 Walker Ln, Alexandria, VA 22310). 

Please arrive one hour before your scheduled procedure time. The procedure is a simple outpatient procedure which examines your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum using an endoscope. The procedure will be performed by Dr. Charles McBride, M.D. Please ensure you bring an ID, your insurance information, and have arranged for a ride home, as the precedure requires sedation. If necessary, medical ride services can be arranged by appointment.

If you need to cancel or reschedule, please call our office at 703-455-5556. If you believe this message is in error, or if you feel this is the wrong procedure, please notify us immediately.

If you are 70 or older, diabetic, or have any heart condition, an EKG within approximately 1 year of your procedure is required at all Inova facilities. This prerequisite is mandated by Inova, not our practice, and allows Inova to meet standards required by the state of Virgina and Anesthesia guidelines. Please request your primary physician or cardiologist to fax your most recent EKG to 866-829-4773. If you do not have a primary doctor or cardiologist, we would be happy to order an EKG at a convenient center to meet this pre-procedure requirement. We encourage patients to obtain the EKG as early as possible to avoid cancellation of your procedure. If you have questions about this, don't hesitate to call our office at 703-455-5556.

PREPARATION FOR UPPER ENDOSCOPY (EGD) PROCEDURE:

If you are 70 or older, diabetic, or have a heart condition, please see note above regarding EKG requirements.

BRING PICTURE IDENTIFICATION TO PROCEDURE APPOINTMENT.

Do not take Carafate or antacids for 24 hours prior to your procedure. Continue all other medications, including the day of your procedure, with a small sip of water. You do NOT have to stop Nexium, Prilosec, Aciphex, Protonix, Prevacid, Zantac, Pepcid, or Tagamet.

Diabetic Patients: Do not take your diabetic medication on the day of your procedure, until after the procedure. We will try to schedule your procedure in the morning if possible.

Special instructions for GLP-1 agonists for diabetes such as Ozempic, Trulicity, Victoza, or Mounjaro ---No milk products are allowed the day before, and you must have a completely empty stomach the day of the procedure. You should not take any of these products within 1 week of your procedure!! These medications may delay stomach emptying, and increase the chance of vomiting and/or aspiration. If on these agents, you should not eat or drink on the day of your procedure.

Insulin is not included in this recommendation We generally recommend holding your insulin on the day of your procedure until after the procedure is completed. If you have any questions about this, please call my office at 703-455-5556 for any clarifications.

Aspirin and Coumadin/Plavix/Eliquis: 

Stop Asiprin 5 days before the procedure, unless otherwise directed. Stop Coumadin/Plavix/Eliquis: Stop blood thinners 3 days before the procedure, unless otherwise directed. Avoid Motrin, Advil, Aleve, and other “non-steroidal anti-inflammatories” for 5 days before your procedure. If you have to take something, Tylenol is preferred.

Blood Pressure Medicine: Continue to take your blood pressure medicine as you normally would, including the day of your procedure.

MORNING PROCEDURES: Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your procedure. You can take your medications with a sip of water.

AFTERNOON PROCEDURES: Do not eat breakfast on the morning of your procedure. If your arrival time is scheduled for 11:00 AM or after, you may drink clear liquids until 9:00 AM the day of your procedure. Clear liquids that you may have include water, coffee, tea, carbonated beverages (i.e. Coke, Ginger Ale, 7-Up, etc.), Jell-O gelatin without food particles, ices and Popsicles, clear fruit juices, broth, bouillon, Gatorade, and Powerade as long as they are NOT RED in color.

Be sure to arrange a ride home. After IV sedation, you are not allowed to drive home as you are considered legally “impaired”. Medical ride services can be arranged if necessary. You can anticipate being at the Surgery Center for approximately 2 ½ hours.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

***Due to the necessity of staffing requirements for an outpatient procedure, if you have to cancel for any unforeseen circumstance, it is mandatory that you give at least 3 day notice prior to your scheduled procedure time.*** If a procedure is cancelled within 48 business hours of the procedure, there will be a $125.00 charge for the late cancellation.