What Is a Colonoscopy, And Why Do I Need One?

A colonoscopy is one of the most commonly utilized screening and treatment procedures carried out by colorectal surgeons, and it is known to be an extremely safe and painless procedure.  It is the process that is used most when screening patients for the presence of colon polyps or tumours.  If you are thought to be at high risk for developing problems with the bowel, then a regular colonoscopy will be highly recommended.  A colonoscopy is also performed every so often even if you do not have a risk for colon cancer.

What Happens During a Colonoscopy and How Does it Work?

A colonoscopy enables the entire length of the bowel to be examined for the presence of polyps or tumours.  If any are identified, then they can also be removed quickly and easily during this procedure, without needing to undergo further surgery.

The colonoscopy involves the insertion of a long, flexible tube with a camera through the anus and  into the colon..  You will be sedated during the colonoscopy.  The camera images are displayed on a monitor and this allows the doctor to clearly see the lining of the colon.  Any polyps, tumors, or other abnormalities can clearly be identified using this method.

If a polyp is identified during the screening, it can be removed during the same procedure, by many methods.  A commonly used technique is  known as snaring.  A snare is a loop of wire that will be slipped over the polyp and tightened, which cuts it away from the lining of the colon, and also cauterizes the wound to prevent any bleeding.  Polyps as small as one millimeter can be removed using this method.  They will then be examined to see whether they show any signs of becoming cancerous.  The polyp may also be removed by nibbling at it with a forceps.

During the colonoscopy, you will normally be given a sedative to help you to relax.  As a result, you will not feel pain during the procedure.   It is recommended that patients in high-risk categories undergo a colonoscopy on a regular basis,in order to identify and treat many cases of bowel cancer.  Speak with your colorectal surgeon about your individual needs.

Why Do I Need A Colonoscopy?

If you are thought to be at high risk for developing colon polyps or cancer, then you will probably be asked to undergo some form of screening, usually a colonoscopy.  This is most likely if you have a family history of bowel problems, if you have an inflammatory condition such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.  Patients older than 50 years of age are recommended to undergo screening.  .

Obesity, along with a high intake of alcohol and cigarettes, increase the risk of developing cancer.  A sedentary lifestyle is also thought to be a risk factor.  Colonoscopy screening is important because it enables problems to be identified and treated at an extremely early stage.  This reduces the need for more invasive treatments, which will be necessary if problems are not identified until much later.  It also greatly increases survival rates for bowel cancer.

What Are The Risks or Complications of a Colonoscopy?

Colonoscopies are usually considered to be extremely safe procedures.  The risks of complications are extremely low, but vary on the experience of the doctor carrying out the procedure, along with several other factors.

The most serious complication that can result from a colonoscopy is the possibility of a perforation of the colon.  The chances of this occurring are extremely low, approximately one perforation in every one thousand to three thousand procedures.  A perforation can be treated non-operatively or operatively, depending on the clinical situation.

As the patient needs to ensure that the bowel is empty prior to having the colonoscopy,  a restricted diet and the use of laxatives may also lead to some side effects.  The most common of these is dehydration, which can be avoided by drinking plenty of water in the days leading up to the procedure.  Other possible concerns about the bowel preparation include abnormalities in your blood chemistries, but this is rare.

Sedatives used during the colonoscopy may also have some adverse effects.  Nausea and vomiting are the most common side effects, and there may also be some skin irritation at the site of injection.

It is generally considered that the benefits of colonoscopy far outweigh the risks, as it enables potentially fatal conditions to be identified and treated at a very early stage, before they have become dangerous.

Contact Your Los Angeles Colorectal Surgeon to Learn More About Colonoscopy.

For further information and advice about what a colonoscopy is and whether you need one, you should contact a local colorectal surgeon, who will provide you with all the information you need in order to make a fully informed decision about your medical treatment in the future.

How a Los Angeles Colonoscopy Procedure Can Save You From Cancerous Colon Polyps

If you are reading this, then chances are you have been invited to participate in a colonoscopy screening program.  These screening programs identify people who are considered to be at a high risk of developing colon cancer, and offer regular screening checks to ensure that the onset of the disease has not begun.  A colonoscopy is a procedure that is commonly used to check the lining of the bowel for the development of polyps, which are the small, fleshy growths that can develop, over time, into tumors.

Colonoscopy and Colon Polyps – How They Are Related

Polyps are not dangerous unless they begin to turn cancerous, and they are often completely asymptomatic.  This means that you probably won’t even know that they are there unless you undergo the screening.  People who are considered to be high risk will be asked to undergo bowel screening, and this will usually involve a colonoscopy.  High risk groups of people include:

• People who are overweight or obese.  This is a risk factor for a wide range of conditions, not just bowel cancer.

• People with a family history of the condition.  There are some genetic forms of bowel cancer, and it is also likely that being in the same environment will expose you to the same carcinogens, which means that families often have a similar risk of developing colon polyps or cancer.

• Anyone who is over fifty years of age is at an increased risk of developing colon cancer.

• The presence of an inflammatory bowel condition greatly increases your risk of developing cancer of the bowel.

There are a number of other risk factors involved in the development of the condition, but as these are the easiest for doctors to identify, these are the groups of people who are most likely to be offered screening.

What Does The Colonoscopy Procedure Involve?

Colonoscopy is an extremely safe procedure that is used to view the inner lining of the entire colon in order to check for the presence of polyps. Anesthesia or a light sedative may be used for the procedure. When anesthesia is used, a trained anesthesiologist is present and monitoring your vital signs to ensure a safe yet adequate level of sedation that will most easily facilitate the procedure. When sedation is used, the surgeon will order sedatives and monitor your vitals while also doing the procedure.

A narrow, flexible tube that is attached to a tiny camera will then be passed through the anus and into the colon.  The camera images are displayed on a screen, and this enables the doctor performing the procedure to clearly view the entire lining of the colon.  This is a highly accurate procedure and enables polyps that would not be identified with other methods of screening to be found.  Polyps as small as one millimetre in diameter can be located using this method.

If polyps are found, they can also be removed during a colonoscopy.  This is one of the main advantages of colonoscopy over other methods of colon screening procedure. If one of the other methods is used and something is found that needs to be removed or biopsied, then you will also need to undergo a colonoscopy at a later date.  The majority of colon polyps can be easily removed by a process known as snaring.  This involves slipping a wire loop, called a snare, over the polyp and tightening it, so that the wire slices through the stem of the polyp.  As the polyp stem is cut, the snare also cauterises the wound, which prevents bleeding.

Any polyps removed from the colon during the colonoscopy procedure will be sent for analysis, in order to check whether or not they show any signs of developing into tumours.

Are There Any Risks Involved in The Procedure?

Any surgical procedure involves some level of risk, but this is extremely low for a colonoscopy.  The most serious risk of a colonoscopy is the possibility of a bowel perforation, which necessitates immediate surgical intervention.  However, at a perforation rate of approximately 0.082% in the most recent study carried out, this is highly unlikely to occur.

Complications are more likely if polyps are removed during the procedure, but they are not usually serious.  Bleeding is usually prevented at the time the polyp is removed, by cauterising the wound.  However, there may be some delayed bleeding for up to a week after the procedure.  If a repeat cauterisation is required to stop this bleeding, it can be carried out.

The bowel preparation process, which involves taking laxatives and following a restricted diet, also has some potential risks.  It is important to drink plenty of water during this time, to prevent the onset of a bowel obstruction and to reduce the risk of dehydration.

Overall, however, the benefits of colonoscopy greatly outweigh the risks of this very safe screening procedure.