In general, women who are breast feeding may safely undergo gastrointestinal endoscopy – the administered anesthetic is not excreted in significant quantities in breast milk. Some mothers elect to store milk via a breast pump and feed the child with the pumped milk on the day of the procedure. Normal breast feeding may resume the following day.
If you are pregnant, you should consult with your physician about whether you should undergo gastrointestinal endoscopy. If you are a woman of child-bearing age, KBEC will administer a pregnancy test prior to your procedure in order to optimize your management.
With rare exceptions, the procedures performed at KBEC do not require the administration of prophylactic antibiotics. If, however, you are advised by your physician to take antibiotics prior to gastrointestinal endoscopy, you may take them orally, 1 hour prior to the procedure, with a small amount of clear fluid. If you are uncertain if you require anti-biotics prior to your GI Endoscopy procedure or if you need a prescription, please call your doctor prior to your appointment.
In general, diabetic medication should not be taken on the day of your procedure. There are, however, important medical circumstances in which these medications must not be stopped. If you have any questions about stopping these medications, consult your primary care physician. A finger stick blood sugar will be obtained by the KBEC staff to ensure proper management of your blood sugar during your procedure. When the procedure is over and you have resumed a normal diet, your usual diabetic regimen should be resumed.
In general, aspirin, anticoagulants and other blood thinners should be stopped at least 3 days prior to your procedure. This is to reduce the chance of bleeding if biopsies are obtained or polyps are removed. There are, however, important medical circumstances in which these medications must NOT be stopped. If you have any questions about stopping these medications, consult your primary physician.
In general, you can continue to take prescribed medications before and after gastrointestinal endoscopy without modification. Please take all medications on the morning of your procedure. Medication should be taken with a small amount of clear liquid. Please contact your physician if you are on aspirin, blood thinners and diabetic medications. Your physician will give you specific instructions regarding these medications. If you are unsure if the medications you take fall into these categories, please ask your physician.
Yes. Co-Payments will be collected at the time of your visit. We will bill your insurance company or HMO directly for the Center’s services. Please contact your insurance carrier to obtain information regarding what your responsibility is in an Ambulatory Surgery setting and for Anesthesia Services. You will also be billed for your in-network deductible and co-insurance. Your insurance company determines this amount. It is important that you are aware of your out of pocket cost. **
**Please note that some insurance companies may send payment directly to you for the facility and anesthesia service. We expect that you will forward this payment and any balance directly to KBEC.
We can provide you with an estimated out of pocket cost which includes:
To receive your quote, please contact the Center at 212-889-5477 and ask for the Billing Coordinator or the Billing Supervisor. They can best assist you with the procedure cost quote.
You must contact your physician for the physician’s professional fee
Yes. KBEC is an independent entity and has no connection to your doctor’s office.
Yes, you will receive anesthesia during your procedure and therefore require a responsible adult to accompany you home.