Colonoscopy

Where should you get done Colonoscopy?

This procedure should be done at a licensed facility by trained endoscopist, usually a gastroenterologist in assistance with trained endoscopy staff.

When do doctor advice for Colonoscopy?

Doctor advise colonoscopy to diagnosed and treat symptomps pertaining to lower GI tract.

Find the cause of symptoms, such as:

• Bleeding from rectum
• Any changes in your bowel activity, such as diarrhea or constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Unexplained weight loss

Colonoscopy may also be advised as screening tool to diagnosed polyp or early colonic cancer which has high probability for getting cure.

Colonoscopy may also be advised as therapeutic procedure for:

• Bleeding management like hemoclip application, APC
• Polypectomy(removal of polyps)
• Early cancer treatment EMR (Endoscopic mucosal resection) or ESD (Endoscopic submucosal dissection)
• SEMS (Metal stent) placement for colon cancer
• Foreign body removal
• Balloon dilatation of Colonic stricture

How to prepare for a colonoscopy?

First talk with your doctor/endoscopist

• About your medical history and complaints
• Current medication including blood thinner, antidiabetic or antihypertensive
• Allergies or Drug reactions
• Any other useful information

Consent

Your doctor will explain about the procedure and its risks & benefits and after that as with all medical procedures, you will be asked to sign a consent form that certifies that you understand that.

Normally, diagnostic colonoscopy is very safe. There are very few complications that can occur like perforation and bleeding, but not limited to it. However, perforations usually occur when the area being examined is diseased and stricturous. Also, bleeding can occur with certain procedures and in certain group especially taking blood thinners, which is why those drugs should be stopped before the procedure. There can be Anesthesia related complication including a reaction to the sedative, breathing or heart problems and Death, although this risk is rare.

Change your diet and clean out your bowel

For colonoscopy, proper bowel preparation is essential. Endoscopist need clear bowel to see inner lining of colon clearly. Detaled written instruction would be provided by health care professional for preparation. It should be followed at home and before procedure so that person undergoing procedure passes clear liquid stool and no stool remained inside to interfere with vision.

Dietary instruction:

It is imperative to be on liquid diet for 1 to 3 days before procedure which would be easier to clear. Person may take following dietary items:

• Vegetable / non vegetable soup without fat
• Plain coffee or tea, without cream or milk
• Flavoured drinks
• Strained fruit juice except orange juice
• Water

Red and purple-colored drinks or gelatin should be avoided during this period

Bowel preparation: Bowel preparation is needed along with dietary changes for further cleansing, There are many bowel preparation is available and your healthcare professional prescribe it depending upon your clinical history. Usually it is prescribed in morning on the day of procedure or in some cases split dose preparation is needed that is half dose on previous evening and half on the morning of procedure. In some cases, enema through anal route is needed.

Bowel preparation will cause diarrhoea, so personal should stay close to bathroom. It is most cumbersome part of the procedure and person may experience few problems during preparation. If person feels nauseated or vomits out while taking the bowel preparation, he or she should wait for half an hour before drinking more fluid and again to start with small sips of solution. If complain persist, he or she might have to stop preparation and to consult physician. Person may experience skin irritation around the anus due to frequent passage of liquid stools. To prevent this, he or she can apply vaseline to the skin around the anus before drinking the bowel preparation medications and should wipe the skin after each bowel movement with disposable wet wipes instead of toilet paper.

How Colonoscopy is Done?

During a colonoscopy, a gastroenterologist uses a colonoscope, which is around five to six feet long, flexible tube with 1/2 inch of diameter to view the inner lining of the colon. Anesthetist may insert intravenous needle in your hand if planned for anesthesia so that person may not feel pain during the procedure. Person is lied down on left side of body; however during procedure it may require to change posture on frequent basis. The colonoscope is inserted through anus into the rectum and slowly advanced through the large intestine till last part of small intestine distal ileum. After that, colonoscope is slowly removed to see the inner lining. It usually takes half and one hour to complete the procedure. It is common to feel cramps during procedure which can be reduced with slow deep breath.

If necessary during a colonoscopy, small amounts of tissue can be removed for analysis (a biopsy) and polyps can be identified and entirely removed. In many cases, a colonoscopy allows accurate diagnosis and treatment of colorectal problems without the need for a major operation.

What to Expect After Colonoscopy?

After a colonoscopy, you can expect the following:

• It takes atleast one to two hours for anesthesia effect to wean off, so person may require observation at recovery room.
• It is not uncommon to feel bloating or cramping sensation after the procedure, which usually subsides in a day or two.
• Diet should be started as per instruction of anesthetist or endoscopist. Usually on the day of procedure plenty of liquid is desirable and person can start normal diet by next day.
• Person may notice blood stained stool or minor bleed post procedure especially if biopsies taken or in case of any intervention. This usually subsides in a day or two, but in case if it persists, person should contact endoscopist.
• After the procedure, health care professional will give instruction to person undergoing procedure aor accompanying relative which should be followed. After the procedure, doctor may share what was found during the procedure with person or relative.
• If polyps were removed or a biopsy was taken, the doctor performing your colonoscopy will tell you when it is safe to resume taking your blood thinners. It may take few days for pathologist to give report which would be informed to concerned person.
• Person should not drive after the procedure, so pre arranged drive to home is needed.

Seek Care Right Away It.

Person might have to seek immediate care if any of the the following symptoms are experienced:

• Severe Abdominal Pain
• Fever
• Persistant bloody stool
• Bleeding from the anus that does not stop
• Dizziness
• Weakness