Transnasal Endoscopy (TNE)

There are a few key benefits to having a TNE performed. These include:

It is a quick and comfortable procedure. 

TNE is completed quickly and with minimal discomfort. We use numbing sprays to make the nasal passages and throat feel numb. Children can go back to their normal activities almost immediately. The time they need to avoid eating or drinking (NPO time) is shorter compared to traditional upper endoscopy, and the recovery time is also shorter, meaning less disruption in school and work schedules.  

It is effective for diagnosis and monitoring. 

TNE allows us to collect biopsy samples, when necessary, just like a traditional upper endoscopy. This helps us diagnose and monitor conditions effectively.  

Your child should not eat any solid foods and should stop drinking water at least two hours before the test.  

Before the procedure, your child will receive an anesthetic spray for the nose and throat that will numb the area and allow the nostrils to open, making it easier and more comfortable to insert the tube.

Once numbed, the provider will insert the scope into the nose and lead it down into esophagus and stomach. The procedure takes approximately 10-20 minutes to perform and is considered safe and painless. If your child’s provider needs to take tissue samples, our child may experience mild discomfort, which is often described as a tugging sensation. This should pass quickly.  

After the procedure, your care team will review your child’s results and schedule a follow-up appointment with you to go over them and discuss the next steps of your child’s treatment. While your child may experience some mild irritation in their throat and nose, serious complications are rare.