Colonoscopy

Last updated on May 24th, 2024 at 11:32 am

Introduction

Colonoscopy is an examination performed by professional health care providers (doctors) using a special flexible tube with a camera attached to the end to check/examine the large intestine (colon and rectum, the ending part of the intestine that stops at the anus)).

Purpose of colonoscopy

There are many reasons why a colonoscopy is performed. Some of them include:

• To examine any early signs of cancer (looking for and  removing polyps)
• To investigate unexplained and undesired changes in bowel movement
• To investigate/examine why abdominal pain/bleeding is happening
• To investigate why the patient is losing weight and is having diarrhea, chronic constipation, etc.

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Risks of colonoscopy

There are not many complications that may arise while performing colonoscopy, but some of the complications include:

• Effect of sedation (feeling numbness and any other adverse effect of the sedation being used)
• If a biopsy (taking or removing of tissues) is performed, there may be some bleeding in the area
• There may be a tear in the colon or rectum wall

But, these complication happens rarely, so you have nothing to worry about.

Even if it occurs, they can be solved easily with your doctors’ help.

What should I do to prepare for a colonoscopy?

Your doctor will provide you with a certain diet to follow for 8–12 hours or even days before the examination.

You are not allowed to eat solid food but are allowed to drink/eat clear fluids (such as water and/or juice).

Your doctor may advise you to take a bowel movement pill to empty your stomach.

On the day of the colonoscopy, you will be asked to take laxatives or sedation, take it and the examination will begin.

PS: you should prepare taxis/cars to go home (not being driven by you of course, because it is not safe to drive under the influence of sedatives).

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What happens during a colonoscopy?

Your doctor will provide you with information regarding the before, during, and after colonoscopy. But, generally

• You will be asked to change into hospital clothes
• Before conducting further procedures, you will be given a sedative/laxative to mitigate any discomfort you may feel
• After that, you will have to lie chest down
• Then, your doctor will insert the special probe (that will pump carbon dioxide into your rectum to make enough clearance for inserting the colonoscopy probe) into the rectum through your anus
• After which, the probe is inserted and the colon/rectum is examined and looked through the monitor

Result

It will take some time to recover from laxative/sedative effects (normally, around an hour or two)

The result of the colonoscopy will be available to you half an hour after the procedure.

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