This article presents details about colonoscopies, including their purpose and what a person experiences when they have a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a procedure to examine the inside of the colon and rectum.
Introduction and Purpose
The procedure is performed using a flexible tube with a small camera on its end. The tube, also known as a colonoscope, contains a channel through which instruments can be passed in order to extract biopsies, remove polyps, stop bleeding and remove foreign objects. Since this is an invasive procedure, the patient usually receives some form of anesthesia--local, mild-general or full-general--to reduce discomfort.
The Examination
The examination begins with the patient lying on her left side. Te tube is inserted through the patient's anus and is pushed through the remainder of the colon, the large intestine. For some procedures it is necessary to examine the cecum, which is the area where the large and small intestine connect. However, it is only required to rule out inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's or colitis and is performed only if symptoms of such conditions exist.
Time Frame
An average procedure varies between 15 minutes and an hour, according to the build of the colon. During the procedure, air is inserted into the bowels in order to properly examine the area, as a result, the patient will suffer from bloating of the abdomen, flatulence and discomfort.
Recovery Time
After the procedure is completed, the recovery time usually takes 30 to 60 minutes for the sedative to wear off.
Virtual Colonsocopy
A procedure known as a virtual colonoscopy is a CT or MRI scan of the colon. This is a noninvasive procedure. It is still being studied to determine its diagnostic abilities. One drawback of the virtual colonoscopy, when compared with standard colonoscopies, is that tissue samples or polyps cannot be removed from the colon.
