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Colonoscopy (cont.)

What to expect during colonoscopy?

Prior to the procedure an IV is started and the patient is given a monitor for continuous monitoring of the heart, blood pressure, and oxygenation of the blood. Medication is often given through the vein to make the patient sleepy and relaxed. If needed, the patient may receive additional doses during the procedure. Colonoscopy often gives a feeling of pressure, cramping, and bloating, however, with the aid of the medication it is generally well tolerated and rarely causes any significant pain.

Patients will be lying on their left side or back as the instrument is slowly advanced. Once the tip of the colon, or the last portion of the small bowel, is reached the colonoscope is slowly withdrawn and the lining is again carefully examined. The procedure usually takes 15 to 60 minutes. If the entire colon, for some reason, can not be visualized, the physician may decide to try it at a later date with a better bowel preparation or may decide to order an x-ray of the colon.

What if there are abnormalities detected during colonoscopy?

If an area needs to be better evaluated a forceps is passed through the instrument and a biopsy (a sample of the tissue) is obtained and is submitted to pathology for a microscopic exam. If infection is suspected a specimen may be obtained for culturing of any possible bacteria or viruses. If the exam is performed because of bleeding, the site can be identified, sample of tissue obtained (if indicated), and the bleeding controlled by several means. Should there be polyps (benign growths that can lead to cancer) they, almost always, can be removed through the colonoscope. Removal of these polyps is an important method of preventing colorectal cancer. None of these additional procedures typically produce pain. Biopsies are taken for many reasons and do not necessarily mean that cancer is suspected and the great majority of polyps are benign.



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