Colonoscopy and EGD Together: The Combined Procedure Explained

If you've been living with digestive symptoms — reflux that won't quit, a change in your bowel habits, or unexplained anemia — you may have heard that both a colonoscopy and an upper endoscopy (EGD) could be in your future. Scheduling two procedures separately can feel like doubling the hassle. Here's the good news: they can often be done together, in a single visit, under one sedation. Here's what patients throughout the Kansas City area and the Midwest should know.

What Is a Combined Colonoscopy and EGD?

A colonoscopy examines the lower digestive tract — the large intestine (colon) and rectum. An upper endoscopy, or EGD (short for esophagogastroduodenoscopy), examines the upper digestive tract — the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine. When the two are combined, both are performed back-to-back in one appointment while you are asleep under the same sedation.

The result is one prep, one visit to the endoscopy center, one recovery, and one complete picture of your digestive health from top to bottom.

Who Might Need Both Procedures?

A combined procedure is most often recommended when symptoms don't clearly point to just one end of the digestive tract. Common reasons include:

• Anemia or unexplained iron deficiency, which can come from bleeding anywhere along the digestive tract
• Persistent abdominal pain or unexplained weight loss with no obvious source
• Blood in the stool or dark, tarry stools, which may signal bleeding that needs to be located
• Chronic reflux or heartburn combined with changes in bowel habits, where both the upper and lower tract deserve a closer look
• A family history of digestive conditions or colorectal cancer, prompting a fuller evaluation

Instead of waiting weeks between two separate appointments, a combined procedure gets you answers faster.

Why Do Them Together?

There are practical reasons the combined approach makes sense:

• One prep. A colonoscopy requires bowel preparation; an EGD does not. Combined, you complete the colonoscopy prep once, and the EGD simply rides along with no extra steps.
• One sedation. You are sedated once, by a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), rather than twice.
• One recovery. You recover once and head home, rather than planning around two procedure days.
• One price. At Colonoscopy KC, the combined procedure is a single, all-inclusive price that costs less than scheduling the two procedures separately.

What Does It Cost?

Colonoscopy KC is built around transparent, all-inclusive pricing. Here's how it breaks down:

• Colonoscopy alone: $1,275
• Upper endoscopy (EGD) alone: $1,175
• Combined colonoscopy + EGD: $2,175

Scheduling the two procedures separately would total $2,450, so the combined price saves you $275. Every price includes the consultation, the procedure, anesthesia, pathology, and surgery center fees — there are no surprise bills afterward. No insurance is required: Colonoscopy KC is a self-pay practice, and flexible financing is available through CareCredit.

What to Expect

Before. You'll follow the standard colonoscopy prep — a clear-liquid day and a split-dose MiraLAX regimen to clean the colon. Because an EGD requires only fasting, there's no additional prep beyond not eating or drinking after midnight.

During. On the day of your procedure, you'll check in at WestGlen Endoscopy Center in Shawnee, Kansas. A CRNA starts your IV sedation, and both procedures are completed while you rest. Colonoscopy KC is led by Dr. Jeffrey Earl, a physician with more than 30 years of experience performing colonoscopies and upper endoscopies, and most patients have no memory of either exam.

After. You'll recover for about 30 to 60 minutes before a driver takes you home. A mild sore throat is possible after the EGD, and some bloating is normal after the colonoscopy — both fade quickly. Most people resume normal activities the next day.

Getting Started

If you've been putting off your screening — or if you have symptoms that need answers — a combined procedure is a straightforward way to get a complete evaluation in a single visit. Call (913) 379-3350 for a complimentary phone consultation. There's no referral needed and no insurance to sort through, and procedures are often scheduled in as little as two weeks.

One phone call can give you years of peace of mind.