| What is a colonoscopy? |
| This is a test or procedure that is usually done as an out patient. A flexible tube with a light and a video camera at the end is inserted through the patients bottom. With this test, we can visualize the inside lining of the rectum and the large bowel. In some cases, some physicians can also look at the lower most part of the small bowel called the terminal ileum. |
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| Animated Video |
| Compare this video with a flexible sigmoidoscopy which is an incomplete evaluation of the colon. |
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| Will I be asleep? |
| Usually, patients are asleep for this test. There are always some exceptions. This is not anesthesia but is called "conscious sedation". So, there is a slight chance, patients may remember the test or have some discomfort. |
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| Why is it usually done and what can you do during the test? |
| Your doctor may choose to do the test for a lot of reasons. They include |
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Evaluation of abdominal pain. |
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Evaluation of diarrhea. |
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Rectal bleeding |
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Change in bowel habits |
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In some cases, for constipation. |
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Family history of colon cancer or polyps. |
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Personal history of colon cancer or polyps. |
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If you have a slide test that shows blood. (guaic test) |
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Medicare has now approved screening colonoscopy (for patients
past the age of 50, even if they have no symptoms). This is done to prevent colon cancer. |
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Follow up of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease |
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If patients have an abnormal X ray |
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| This is only a partial list of reasons |
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| During the test, your physician can : |
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Look for colitis and other abnormalities of the lining of the bowel |
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Remove polyps |
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Stop bleeding by injecting applying heat or injecting the bleeding site with medications |
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Take biopsies |
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| What are the side effects of the test? |
| The test is generally very safe. Complications are generally uncommon. Complications that can happen include |
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Bleeding or if the person is already bleeding, it may not always be possible to stop the bleeding. Some patients may require surgery in that situation. |
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Infection. Some patients, if they throw up can develop pneumonia. |
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Perforation or poking a hole. This would be serious and can require surgery. |
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Side effect to the medications. |
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Infection at the IV site. |
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Missing an ulcer, mass or polyp is also a possibility. |
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Patients who have other underlying diseases can have complications of the underlying disease during the test. |
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| Overall, the test is extremely safe and complications are rare. |
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| Do I need a ride after the test? |
| Yes. We also recommend not working or making any significant decisions after the test. The medicines that we give for the test, often makes the patient forgetful. Patients should also have someone with them at home for the rest of the day. |
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| When will I know my test results? |
| There is some information the physician can give right away. If a biopsy has been taken, it may take up to a week to get those results back. |
