What is Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a test utilised to find lesions or irregularities in the large intestinal tract (colon) and anus. Throughout a colonoscopy, a long, flexible tube (colonoscope) is placed right into the colon. A tiny camera at the tip of the tube allows the physician to watch the whole colon.

Why is Colonoscopy done?

Colonoscopy is done for many purposes. It is used to investigate intestinal tract signs and symptoms. A few are listed below:

• Rectal bleeding
• Persistent constipation
• Chronic Diarrhoea
• Rectal Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Screening for colon cancer
• Follow-up colonoscopy

How does one prepare for Colonoscopy?

• After the appointment and prior to a colonoscopy, you’ll require to clear out (empty) your colon.
• One is not to eat solid food the day prior to the examination.
• Drinks may be restricted to clear fluids– ordinary water, tea and coffee without milk or just a touch of it, broth, and also carbonated beverages.
• Avoid red fluids, which can be confused with blood throughout the colonoscopy.
• You are not to consume anything after midnight before the test.
• Your medical professional will generally advise taking a laxative, in either tablet form or fluid kind. You might be instructed to take the laxative the night prior to your colonoscopy, or you may be asked to utilize the laxative both the evening before as well as the morning of the procedure.
• Sometimes, you may require to make use of a non-prescription enema package– either the evening before the exam or a few hrs prior to the exam– to empty your colon. Typically it is not recommended as a key way of clearing your colon.

Details of the colonoscopy procedure

• Consent is taken. Risks are explained during consenting.
• Sedation is normally suggested. Moderate sedative is given as an injection
• You’ll lie on your side on the table, typically with your knees drawn towards your upper body. The physician will insert a colonoscope right into your anus and do the procedure.
• When the scope is moved or air/co2 is introduced, you might really feel abdominal cramping or need to have a defecation. The colonoscope likewise has a tiny video camera at its tip. The video camera sends out video to an exterior monitor to ensure that the doctor can study the inside of your colon. If there is a need, tissue samples (biopsies) are taken or polyp is excised to biopsy it. A colonoscopy generally takes around 30 to 60 mins.

When can I completely recover after colonoscopy?

After the test, it takes an hour to begin to recover from the sedative. You’ll need someone to take you residence because it can take up to a day for the full effects of the sedative to wear off. Don’t drive or make essential decisions or go back to work for the rest of the day. If your physician got rid of a polyp during your colonoscopy, you may be advised to consume an unique diet regimen briefly. You may feel puffed up or pass gas for a couple of hrs after the examination. Strolling might help soothe any type of pain.

You may likewise discover a small amount of blood with your very first defecation after the exam. Usually this isn’t peril. Consult your doctor if you continue to pass blood or blood clots or if you have persistent stomach pain or a fever.

What is a negative result?

A colonoscopy is considered negative if the doctor doesn’t discover any problems in the colon. Your physician may recommend that you have another colonoscopy:

• In 10 years, if you have no colon cancer risk elements other than age.
• In 5 years, if you have a history of polyps in previous colonoscopy treatments.
• In one year, if there was residual faces in the colon that avoided full evaluation of your colon.
• If there is a positive result.

What is a positive result?

A colonoscopy is considered positive if the physician finds any type of polyps or unusual tissue in the colon. Most polyps aren’t cancerous, but some can be precancerous. Polyps are removed during same colonoscopy or in a new session; excised polyps are sent out to a laboratory for evaluation to determine whether they are malignant, precancerous or noncancerous. Depending on the size and number of polyps, you might require to comply with an extra strenuous monitoring routine in the future to try to find even more polyps.

Another colonoscopy is advised if:

• More than two polyps.
• A large polyp– larger than 0.4 inch (1 centimeter).
• Polyps as well as also residual stool in the colon that protects against full exam of the colon.
• Polyps with specific cell attributes that suggest a greater danger of future cancer.
• Malignant polyps.

Difficult colonoscopy

Sometimes the procedure is not completed because of lot of faecal matter. pain or difficulty in negotiating the entire length of the colon. A repeat colonoscopy in a shorter time is recommended. If your doctor wasn’t able to advance the extent of entire colon, a barium enema or virtual colonoscopy might be suggested to check out the rest of your colon.

What are the risks of colonoscopy?

Rarely, colonoscopy can have complications. These could be:

• Adverse response to the sedative used throughout the examination
• Haemorrhaging from where a tissue example (biopsy) was taken or a polyp or other uncommon cells was removed
• A tear in the colon or anus wall (perforation).

What are the procedures done during colonoscopy?

• Biopsies of suspicious lesions
• Polypectomy
• Stenting of a stricture
• Argon laser to stop bleeding
• Laser treatment of proctitis
• Removal of a foreign body
• Screening procedure for colorectal cancer

Conclusion:

Colonoscopy is a very useful diagnostic and therapeutic tool available to evaluate the colon and rectum. It is never done on the behest of a patient but needs to be recommended by a physician. One should never say no to colonoscopy when recommended.