This information will help you get ready for your endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) procedure at MSK. Read through this resource at least once before your procedure and use it as a reference in the days leading up to your procedure.
Figure 1. Digestive system
An ESD is a procedure to remove tumors in your digestive tract. Your digestive tract is made up of your esophagus (food pipe), stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), and rectum (see Figure 1).
Your ESD will be done while you have an endoscopy. This means that your healthcare provider will use a flexible tube called an endoscope to see inside your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine and remove the tumors you have.
Your healthcare provider will talk with you about what to expect and how to get ready for your ESD. Follow these instructions carefully.
2 Weeks Before Your Procedure
Ask about your medications
You may need to stop taking some of your medications before your procedure. Talk with your healthcare provider about which medications are safe for you to stop taking. We have included some common examples below.
Do not stop taking any of your medications without talking with your healthcare provider first.
Anticoagulants
If you take a blood thinner (medication that affects the way your blood clots), ask the healthcare provider who prescribes it for you when you should stop taking it, and how many days until you need to start taking it again. Be sure to share this information with the healthcare provider that will perform your ESD.
Examples of common blood thinners are listed below. There are others, so be sure your care team knows all the medications you take. Do not stop taking your blood thinner without talking with a member of your care team.
|
|
Medications for diabetes
If you take insulin or other medications for diabetes, you may need to change the dose. Ask the healthcare provider who prescribes your diabetes medication what you should do the day before and the morning of your procedure.
If you take metformin (such as Glucophage® or Glumetza®) or a medication that contains metformin (such as Janumet®), do not take it the day before or the day of your procedure.
Get a letter from your healthcare provider, if needed
- If you have an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD), you’ll need to get a clearance letter (a letter that says you can have the procedure) from your cardiologist (heart doctor) before your procedure.
- If you’ve had chest pain, dizziness, trouble breathing that’s new or worse, or have fainted in the last 6 weeks, you’ll need to get a clearance letter from your cardiologist, if you have one, or your primary care provider before your procedure.
Your MSK healthcare provider’s office must have your clearance letter at least 5 days before your procedure.
1 Week Before Your Procedure
Follow Your Healthcare Provider’s Instructions for Taking Aspirin
If you take aspirin, ask the healthcare provider that prescribes it to you if you can stop taking it 1 week before your procedure. Aspirin and medications that contain aspirin can cause bleeding. For more information, read Common Medications Containing Aspirin, Other Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), or Vitamin E.
If your healthcare provider doesn’t want you to stop taking aspirin, tell the healthcare provider doing your ESD procedure at least 10 days before the procedure.
Arrange for someone to take you home
You must have a responsible care partner take you home after your procedure. A responsible care partner is someone who can help you get home safely. They should be able to contact your care team if they have any concerns. Make sure to plan this before the day of your procedure.
If you don’t have a responsible care partner to take you home, call one of the agencies below. They’ll send someone to go home with you. There’s a charge for this service, and you’ll need to provide transportation. It’s OK to use a taxi or car service, but you still need a responsible care partner with you.
| Agencies in New York | Agencies in New Jersey |
| Partners in Care: 888-735-8913 | Caring People: 877-227-4649 |
| Caring People: 877-227-4649 |
3 Days Before Your Procedure
An endoscopy nurse will call you between and 3 days before your procedure. They will review the instructions in this guide with you and ask you questions about your medical history. The nurse will also review your medications and tell you which medications to take the morning of your procedure.
2 Days Before Your Procedure
Stop Taking Iron Supplements
If you take an iron supplement, stop taking it 2 days before your procedure. Iron supplements can cause dark stains in your digestive (GI) path, which can make it harder for your healthcare provider to see it clearly.
The Day Before Your Procedure
Note the time of your procedure
A staff member from the hospital will call you after (noon) the day before your procedure. The staff member will tell you what time you should arrive at the hospital. If you’re scheduled for your procedure on a Monday, you will be called on the Friday before. If you do not get a call, call your healthcare provider’s office.
If you need to cancel your procedure, call the healthcare provider who scheduled it for you.
Instructions for eating before your procedure
Do not eat anything after midnight the night before your procedure. This includes hard candy and gum.
The Day of Your Procedure
Instructions for drinking before your procedure
You can drink a total of 12 ounces of water between midnight and 2 hours before your scheduled arrival time. Do not drink anything else.
Do not drink anything starting 2 hours before your scheduled arrival time. This includes water.
Things to remember
- Take only the medications you were told to take the morning of your procedure. Take them with a few sips of water.
- Do not put any lotions, creams, or powder on your chest or arms.
- Remove any jewelry, including body piercings.
- Leave all valuables, such as credit cards and jewelry, at home. There won’t be lockers available to store your valuables in.
- If you wear contacts, wear your eyeglasses instead.
What to bring
- A list of the medications you take at home, including patches and creams.
- Your rescue inhaler (such as albuterol (Ventolin®) for asthma), if you have one.
- A case for your eyeglasses.
- Your Health Care Proxy form, if you have completed one.
- If you have an implanted pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD), bring your wallet card with you.
Where to park
MSK’s parking garage is on East 66th Street between York and 1st avenues. If you have questions about prices, call 212-639-2338.
To reach the garage, turn onto East 66th Street from York Avenue. The garage is about a quarter of a block in from York Avenue. It’s on the right (north) side of the street. There’s a tunnel you can walk through that connects the garage to the hospital.
There are other parking garages located on:
- East 69th Street between 1st and 2nd avenues.
- East 67th Street between York and 1st avenues.
- East 65th Street between 1st and 2nd avenues.
Paid valet parking is available at the David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care.
Where to go
Your procedure will take place at one of these locations:
David H. Koch Center
530 East 74th Street
New York, NY 10021
Take the elevator to the 8th floor.
Endoscopy Suite at Memorial Hospital (MSK’s main hospital)
1275 York Avenue (between East 67th and East 68th Streets)
New York, NY 10065
Take the B elevator to the 2nd floor. Turn right and enter the Endoscopy/Surgical Day Hospital Suite through the glass doors.
What to expect
When it’s time for your procedure, you’ll be brought into the procedure room and helped onto a procedure table. You’ll be attached to equipment to monitor your heart, breathing, and blood pressure. You’ll also receive oxygen through a thin tube that rests below your nose. A mouth guard will be placed over your teeth to protect them.
Your nurse or anesthesiologist will place an intravenous (IV) line into a vein, usually in your arm or hand. You’ll get anesthesia through your IV, which will make you fall asleep. Once you’re asleep, your healthcare provider will pass the endoscope through your mouth, down your esophagus, into your stomach, and into your small intestine. Your healthcare provider will use the endoscope to remove any tumors and then remove the endoscope. Figure 2 shows the tumor removal process.
Figure 2. Tumor removal process.
Your procedure usually takes 1 to 3 hours, but sometimes may be longer.
After Your Procedure
When you wake up, you’ll be in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Your nurse will continue to monitor your heart, breathing, and blood pressure. You’ll need to stay in the hospital overnight so your nurse can monitor you. You’ll move to an inpatient bed when one is available.
If you do not have any issues overnight, you’ll be able to leave the hospital the next day.
At home
-
For the first 7 days after your procedure:
- Do not drink alcohol.
- Do not do any strenuous exercise (such as jogging and tennis).
- Do not lift anything heavier than 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms).
- Try to stay local, and do not travel long distances, such as outside of the country.
Most people can go back to work 5 days after having this procedure, but everyone is different, so it may be shorter or longer for you. If you need to do a lot of heavy lifting at your job, talk with your healthcare provider before going back to work.
Follow-up care
You’ll have a follow-up visit with your healthcare provider 2 weeks after your procedure. During this visit, your healthcare provider will talk with you about your results and go over a treatment plan.
When To Call Your Healthcare Provider
Call your healthcare provider if you have:
- A fever of 101 °F (38.3 °C) or higher.
- Intense pain, hardness, or swelling in your abdomen (belly).
- Blood in your vomit (throw up).
- Intense throat pain that won’t go away.
- Weakness, faintness, or both.
- Dark stools (poop) or blood in your stool.
- Any other questions or concerns.
If you have chest pain or trouble breathing, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns, call Dr. Makoto Nishimura’s office at 212-639-6029. You can reach a staff member Monday through Friday from to After , during the weekend, and on holidays, call 212-639-2000. Ask for the GI doctor on call.
