Colonoscopy Phoenix is a safe, common procedure. But like any test, it can carry some risks.
Before the test, you’ll wear a hospital gown, and your doctor will put an IV in your arm or hand to give you pain medicine and sedatives. Make sure you arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure.
Before the test, drink a special liquid that cleans your colon. This liquid is called a “bowel preparation.” You may also take a pill or receive an enema that causes diarrhea. You should follow the bowel prep instructions carefully. These instructions are very important because if your bowel is not empty, polyps and pre-cancerous lesions might be missed; the exam will be more uncomfortable, and it will take longer.
You will be given a prescription for the bowel preparation. You should read the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) for this product to learn more about it and how it works. You should also check with your health care provider to ensure you understand the bowel preparation instructions and discuss any questions or concerns you have.
The day of the colonoscopy, you should eat only clear liquid foods. Then, beginning about 12 to 18 hours before the procedure, you will drink the bowel preparation. The preparation contains a laxative that triggers bowel-clearing diarrhea. The bowel needs to be totally empty for the colonoscopy to be effective.
During the colonoscopy, you lie on a table while the doctor inserts a thin tube called a “colonoscope” through your anus and into your rectum and colon. The tube has a camera that sends a video image to a monitor. The doctor can watch the lining of your colon and rectum on the screen and, if needed, can use the camera to remove small growths, called polyps. The polyps are sent to a laboratory for analysis, and the results can help determine whether they are cancerous or not.
The test is usually done in 30 to 60 minutes. It may take a little longer if the doctor wants to remove a sample of a growth, called a polyp, for testing in a lab. This can add 15 minutes to the procedure. In rare cases, the test can cause some bleeding in the rectum or colon. The bleeding usually stops on its own or can be controlled during the colonoscopy by medication.
Procedure
Your bowel needs to be empty for the test, so you must not eat solid food the day before. You may be asked to take a liquid laxative. These can cause diarrhoea. The test itself is done as an outpatient in the endoscopy department at a hospital or clinic.
You lie on your back and the doctor inserts a long flexible tube called a colonoscope into your rear passage (rectum) and up into your large bowel. The tube is fitted with a light and camera at the end. It is also able to pump in air to expand your colon and allow the doctor to see the inside lining clearly on a TV monitor. The doctor may also use the tube to take a small sample of the tissue or polyps for analysis. A snare is attached to the tube so that tissue can be pulled away for biopsy. The doctor can also remove any abnormal growths that are seen.
The test usually takes less than an hour. The doctor can tell right away if they found anything of concern but the results of any biopsies taken or polyps removed will not be ready until a few days later when they are sent for laboratory analysis.
During the procedure, you will be given painkillers and medicine to make you sleepy. The doctor will ask you to sign a consent form before you are given these medicines. If you are having a colonoscopy because of blood in your stool, you will be asked not to eat solid foods for three days before the test and instead drink lots of clear fluids.
After the colonoscopy is finished, you are taken to the recovery room where your heart rate, breathing and blood pressure are monitored. Once you are stable, you can go home. You should follow the discharge instructions carefully. You may need to avoid some medications, such as blood-thinning drugs, for a few days or weeks if polyps or other tissue were removed for analysis. You should always check with your health care provider before taking any new medications.
Recovery
In many cases, a colonoscopy can be performed without sedation. However, if the test results in polyps or cancerous tissue being detected, a patient may be given a mild sedative to ensure comfort. Some doctors will also prescribe a pain reliever. After the procedure, patients should drink plenty of water and electrolyte drinks to stay hydrated. They should not consume alcohol within 24 hours of the procedure.
Before the test, the doctor will likely ask you to follow a clear liquid diet for several hours before the exam. Acceptable liquids include water, Gatorade, broth, and tea or coffee without milk or creamer. Some people will have to take laxatives to clean out their colon before the test, which can be taken in pill or liquid form. They will usually have to use the laxatives the night before the colonoscopy and again on the morning of the test.
Immediately after the test, a person will probably feel gassy or bloated due to the air that is injected into the large intestine during the procedure. This feeling will pass as the air is released. Some people may experience abdominal pain or nausea as well, but these symptoms are not necessarily indicative of a problem.
After the test, the doctor will usually put you in a recovery room to monitor for any complications. In most cases, a person will be allowed to leave the recovery room once they are able to sit up and talk. It will take up to 24 hours for the effects of sedation to wear off, so it is important that you have someone available to drive you home.
It is not unusual for a patient to experience some bleeding after a colonoscopy. However, it is important to monitor the bleeding for any signs of trouble, such as heavy or persistent bleeding and any blood in the stool. If you notice any symptoms, speak to your doctor as soon as possible to avoid any serious issues.
Results
Once the procedure is over, your doctor can tell you if there are any results that need to be sent to a lab for analysis. The test can help your doctor see if you have any polyps or other abnormal areas in your colon, as well as diagnose and treat colon cancer. It can also find colon cancer or other diseases in people with no symptoms (screening) and remove suspicious looking polyps before they develop into colon cancer.
During the procedure, you will be under general anesthesia or a form of sedation. This can make you feel dizzy and lightheaded for a while afterwards. If you need to drive or work, you should arrange for someone to pick you up after the procedure. You will need to stay at home for 24 hours while the sedation wears off.
Bleeding from a colonoscopy can be a serious complication, but it is fairly rare. If you notice any blood in your rectum or stool after the procedure, contact your doctor immediately. You may need to have blood tests done to determine the cause of the bleeding.
Some medications can increase your chances of bleeding after a colonoscopy, including aspirin and other over-the-counter painkillers. If you are taking one of these medications, talk to your doctor about switching to another medication.
You can expect some bloating and cramping after the procedure, especially if you had biopsies or polyps removed. You could also experience some bowel movement changes, such as more frequent or smaller stools.
In rare cases, the tool used in a colonoscopy can accidentally cause a small tear in your intestine. This can be very serious and you may need to have surgery to repair it.
A very rare complication of a colonoscopy is a splenic injury or rupture, which can be caused by the colonoscope causing direct trauma to the splenic flexure or spleno-colic ligament or from sclerosing a large polyp. This can be fatal if it is not treated quickly.
The medical team at a hospital that performs colonoscopies should be trained to recognize these complications and treat them promptly. If your doctor fails to do so, you should file a medical malpractice claim.