Colonoscopy

What is a colonoscopy? Colonoscopy is a procedure which allows doctors to look inside the large intestine. It is performed by passing a thin tube with a camera through the rectum into the intestine.

Who needs a colonoscopy?

Colonoscopy is a routine screening tool for colon cancer for patients who are older than 50 years of       age. For these patients, it is recommended that colonoscopy be performed every 10 years.

Colonoscopy may also be indicated if a person has a family or personal history of colon cancer                or unexplained bleeding from the rectum.

What happens during a colonoscopy?

Typically, patients will be asked to follow a liquid diet for 1-3 days before the procedure, including        clear broths and juices. The night before the procedure, patients take a laxative preparation to clear         the bowel.

During the procedure, the patient lies on their left side and are given pain medication and sedatives to      keep them comfortable. A long, flexible, lighted tube with a camera is inserted into the rectum and      passed into the colon. The doctor will carefully examine the tissue in the colon for abnormal growths        or polyps. Most of these growths can be removed during the procedure. The doctor can also sample        the colonic tissue for laboratory analysis.

The procedure usually takes 30-60 minutes. Most people do not remember the procedure afterwards.      Side effects include cramping or gas, but these usually pass within an hour. Patients must remain at         the facility for 1-2 hours following the procedure to allow time for the sedatives to wear off.

For more information:

• Colonoscopy from the National Institutes of Health

• MedlinePlus Interactive Tutorial on Colonoscopy

• American Cancer Society guidelines on colon cancer screening