From the Guidelines
You can typically eat again about one to two hours after an endoscopy, once you're fully awake and the sedation has worn off. Your doctor or nurse will specifically let you know when it's safe for you to eat and drink. According to the guidelines for standards of sedation and patient monitoring during gastrointestinal endoscopy 1, after returning to the ward, the patient should be kept lying on his side and allowed to sleep for up to two hours, then asked to sit up and take a sip of water. If the patient can take this without any pain or coughing, they may then take a good drink of water and eventually return to a normal diet.
It's essential to follow the specific instructions provided by your healthcare provider, as some procedures might require special dietary instructions. For example, after certain treatments, you might need to avoid specific foods temporarily 1. The waiting period is necessary because sedation can impair your swallowing reflex and increase the risk of choking or aspiration if you eat too soon. Additionally, if biopsies were taken or treatments performed during your endoscopy, your doctor might give you specific dietary restrictions to follow for proper healing.
Some key points to consider after an endoscopy include:
- Not driving a car, operating machinery, or drinking alcohol until 24 hours have elapsed after the endoscopy 1
- Being aware that you may have a sore throat for about 24-48 hours after the procedure 1
- Reporting any severe pain in the neck, chest, or abdomen to your doctor at once 1
- Initially starting with clear liquids and light, easy-to-digest foods before returning to your normal diet.
Most people can resume their normal diet by the next day unless instructed otherwise by their healthcare provider. It's crucial to prioritize your safety and follow the guidance provided by your medical team to ensure a smooth recovery.
From the Research
When to Eat Again After Endoscopy
- There is no specific information in the provided studies regarding when to eat again after an endoscopy 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The studies focus on sedation regimens for gastrointestinal endoscopy 2, perioperative fasting guidelines for clear liquids before anesthesia in children 3, improving documentation of anticoagulation and antiplatelet recommendations after outpatient endoscopy 4, clinical practice and guidelines for managing antithrombotics before and after endoscopy 5, and the safety of gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsy in patients taking antithrombotics 6.
- None of the studies provide guidance on when patients can eat again after an endoscopy procedure.
Related Information
- The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) recommend a minimum 2-hour fast after ingestion of clear liquids before general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, or procedural sedation and analgesia 3.
- However, this information is related to fasting before anesthesia, not after an endoscopy procedure.
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to assist in answering the question of when to eat again after an endoscopy.