What the risks are:

There is a small chance of perforation (hole) of the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus. There is also a small risk of bleeding at the biopsy site. A patient could have an adverse reaction to the anesthetic, medication, or tranquilizer. This reaction could cause:

• Apnea (not breathing)
• Bradycardia
• Excessive sweating
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Laryngospasm (spasm of the larynx)
• Respiratory depression (difficulty breathing)

The overall risk is less than 1 out of 1,000 people.

Special considerations:

If any of these conditions arise after the test, contact the health care provider:

• Black stools
• Blood in vomit
• Difficulty swallowing
• Fever
• Pain