[Transnasal gastroscopy]

The use of transnasal endoscopy has not been reported earlier in Denmark. This study describes the preliminary experiences with transnasal gastroscopy using the Olympus XGIF-N200 prototype. Patients scheduled for diagnostic gastroscopy were examined transnasally. The patients answered questions regarding anxiety and discomfort, and the endoscopist commented on the quality of the procedure. Of sixty patients included, 56 (93%) were examined transnasally. Two patients did not have nasal passage and were examined orally, and two patients were examined with standard gastroscope because of technical difficulties. Sixty-eight percent of the procedures were unsedated, 55% of the patients did not experience gag-reflexes. The procedure was described by most patients as "slightly uncomfortable". Twenty-five percent had uncomplicated epistaxis. Pulse rate and saturation levels were stable. Transnasal gastroscopy seems to be well tolerated by the patients, as both subjective and objective criteria were better than those for conventional gastroscopy.