Colonoscopy

The colon or large intestine is an important part of the gastrointestinal system of your body. It stores feces, absorbs vitamins and water from the digested food, and helps in the removal of the fecal matter. Polyps and outgrowths in the colon can ulcerate your colonic wall and lead to cancer development.

Colonoscopy, simply defined as looking inside a patient’s colon and some part of the small intestine is an important diagnostic intervention to screen patients for structural problems in their colon wall, including polyps, ulcers, and colorectal cancer. It is a visual examination of the bowel undertaken with the help of a flexible tube and a camera. A regular colonoscopy is not needed after attaining 75 years of age. Read on to learn more about the procedure.

What Is a Colonoscopy?

Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer in the world, after lung cancer. Therefore, early diagnosis of colorectal cancer is crucial to saving one’s life. With this treatment option, it has become possible for physicians globally to visualize cancerous changes in the colon as soon as possible.

Doctors use this procedure to make sure that your bowel walls are healthy. Colonoscopy is a medical procedure that is undertaken by a gastroenterologist. It helps medical experts understand the internal lining of your colon and intestinal walls. 

It is also useful to localize ulcers, polyps, and tumors arising from the colon wall. Localization and subsequent removal of such abnormal structures in the intestine is important to avoid future complications such as bowel obstruction, narrowing of the bowel lumen, or bleeding and pain in several instances. 

Colonoscopy acts as a screening examination for colorectal cancer. This is the most important function of the procedure, as it can essentially save lives by providing an early diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

Our experts at Northlake Gastroenterology can help you identify signs of cancer and other colon-related issues using colonoscopy. Get in touch with us now to schedule your colonoscopy.

The colonoscopy device (called a colonoscope) consists of a flexible hand-held tube. The tube has a high-definition camera attached to one of its ends. The doctor inserts the tube camera inside the anus of the patient. High-definition images of the colonic wall are captured by the camera. These images are studied by doctors to look for abnormal growth in the colon. Accessory channels are also present alongside the tube to inject fluid inside the colon to get rid of the colonic mucus that can blur the images.

Why Do I Need a Regular Colonoscopy?

It is advisable for people above the age of 45 years to get a colonoscopy at regular intervals. This procedure can diagnose issues early on. Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US. Therefore, an early diagnosis of colorectal cancer can be lifesaving in many ways. 

Besides preventive screening for cancer, colonoscopy is also an effective way to diagnose gastrointestinal issues and Crohn’s disease, and more. People above the age of 75 should ideally speak to their doctor before choosing the procedure.

How Often Should Colonoscopy Be Done?

Usually, in an average-risk patient, a colonoscopy should be performed every 10 years. An average-risk patient is defined as someone who is older than 45, never had an abnormal colonoscopy, and has no family history of colorectal cancer or polyp diseases. However, in people with a family history of colonic polyps or colorectal cancer– colonoscopy must be performed every one, two, or five years or even before attaining the age of 45.

Additionally, a colonoscopy procedure can be performed in patients with blood in their stools, unexplained anemia or weight loss, and suspected colonic infections to rule out cancer. 

What Can Doctors Find During a Colonoscopy?

During the examination of the internal lining of your colon wall, a doctor can visualize any lesions or marks that look suspicious. There are specific colon-related issues that can only be seen with this procedure. For example, colonoscopy is an important diagnostic procedure for ulcerative diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn’s disease. 

With a colonoscopy, your doctor can also resect a very thin slice of your colon wall. The collected tissue specimen is sent to the laboratory for histological examination or a biopsy. Tissue examination in the lab can help in determining the nature of the growth (tumor or simply a polyp). 

Can Colonoscopy Be Used for Treatment?

Colonoscopy can also be used for treatment procedures. It can be used to stop bleeding from an ulcer inside the colon or to untangle parts of the colon that have twisted over each other. Colonoscopy can aid in foreign body removal or excision of nodules that can cause pain and obstruction. Additionally, the procedure can be used to decompress intestinal loops. 

How to Prepare for a Colonoscopy

Preparation for a colonoscopy is a simple yet complicated process. Your colon must be free of fecal matter for the doctor to identify lesions present inside the colonic wall. Therefore, your doctor will prescribe you oral laxatives or solutions to loosen stools and empty the colon. This prescription is made 1-2 days before the procedure.

However, the colon is never completely empty, and therefore during the procedure, some feces can be produced. This can lead to patient discomfort and embarrassment. However, it should be understood that defecating during colonoscopy is a completely normal occurrence. The use of laxatives can cause GIT discomfort but varies from patient to patient. Enemas can also be used before performing the procedure to facilitate bowel cleansing.

During a Colonoscopy

It is best to arrive at the clinic 30-60 minutes before the colonoscopy procedure is due. A small, flexible tube is inserted through the anus to capture the insides of your colonic wall. The procedure may feel slightly uncomfortable. Sedation may be provided in some cases. A colonoscopy procedure usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes to complete.

In most cases, you’ll be able to leave the hospital a few hours after colonoscopy. However, your doctor may warn you against driving or operating heavy machinery for over 8 hours after the procedure. It’s also vital to take complete rest ill the effect of the sedation wears off. 

Some people may also experience mild discomfort or pain for a few hours after the procedure. Make sure you consult your doctor immediately if the level of pain or discomfort is high and you feel like something is working.

Contraindications to a Colonoscopy

While colonoscopy is a completely safe procedure in itself, there are certain situations in which a colonoscopy cannot be performed. The most important one of them is patient refusal. Once a patient refuses colonoscopy, the procedure cannot be performed against his/her will. Other contraindications to colonoscopy include inflammatory processes or infections in the colon. During a colonoscopy, an inflamed colon is more susceptible to getting perforated.

Patients with a recent heart attack, recent surgery, or bowel injury should also refrain from colonoscopy procedures. Typically, patients should wait at least six weeks from an acute event before opting for this procedure. In rare cases, the patient may contract an infection after the procedure. So, it’s crucial to be careful for a few weeks and watch out for signs of fever, chills, pain, diarrhea, or nausea. 

Recovering from a Colonoscopy

After a colonoscopy, you might experience some level of discomfort and pain in the abdominal area. This can be because a lot of air is released from the colon during the procedure. If sedation was performed during the procedure, an additional 30 to 60 minutes are required for the side effects to wear off.

Recovery from colonoscopy could take longer. For example, it can take up to 2 weeks for a patient to completely recover from a colonoscopy for polyp removal. Pain medication is usually prescribed to the patient. However, after colonoscopy, if you notice symptoms such as fever or pain, or bleeding, then report it immediately to your doctor.

Colonoscopy has several benefits. A typical adult person would require regular colonoscopy only three times in their lifetime if the proper schedule is followed. A simple procedure, every 10 years, can save you from the health hazards of life-threatening cancer. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the better the prognosis of detected cancer. 

Therefore, a regular colonoscopy is a great examination test for everyone to combat colorectal cancer. Different doctors and clinics have their own prep methods and techniques to carry out a colonoscopy. So, it's recommended you evaluate the medical facility and professionals before choosing one of them.

Northlake Gastroenterology Associates offers colonoscopy treatments. The health and convenience of our patients is our highest priority, and we ensure every one of our patients gets the care they deserve. Get an appointment with us now to schedule your colonoscopy.