![]() In most cases a member of staff will be able to tell you the results of the test as soon as you are awake and you will given a copy of the endoscopy report to take home. For the remainder of the day you should not drive a vehicle, operate machinery or make important decisions. A responsible adult must be available to escort you home as the sedation impairs your reflexes and judgement. You will be left to rest in the recovery area for up to 1 hour, until the main effects of any medication wear off. The examination usually takes anywhere from 15-60 minutes. You may also be asked to change position during the examination, and will be assisted by a nurse. You may experience some abdominal cramping and pressure from the air which is introduced into your bowel this is normal and will pass quickly. The endoscopist will then pass the colonoscope into the rectum, and advance it through the colon. You will be placed in a comfortable position on your left side, and may be given medication by injection through a vein to make you sleepy and relaxed. If you have any worries or questions at this stage don't be afraid to ask, the staff will want you to be as relaxed as possible for the test and will not mind answering your queries. They will also want to know about any previous endoscopy you have had, or any other medical conditions which you may suffer from and details of medication which you may be taking. Please tell the doctor of nurse if you have had any allergies or bad reactions to drugs or other tests in the past. This is to ensure that you understand the test and any potential complications that may occur. When you come to the department, a member of staff will explain the test to you and ask you to sign a consent form. ![]() You will be sent detailed information and instructions on how to take the laxatives in the post, the various patient information sheets relating to your procedure can also be found here. Please also follow the dietary instructions for the few days preceding the test, as this will also help to ensure the bowel is clean for the test. It is important to take all of the laxatives prescribed and considerably increase your intake of clear fluids on the day before the examination, which will help clean the bowel. If it is not, certain areas may be obscured and the test may have to be abandoned and repeated at a later date. To allow a clear view, the colon must be clean and completely empty of waste material. Occasionally it may be necessary to return for a repeat colonoscopy in order to treat large or difficult to remove polyps. ![]() If polyps are found the endoscopist may decide to remove them via polypectomy during the procedure again this is a painless procedure. Polyps are abnormal projections or growths of tissue from the lining of the bowel, rather like a wart, and certain types of bowel polyps may be at risk of developing into cancer if left. It is also possible to remove polyps during a colonoscopy. What else may be done during the procedure?ĭuring the colonoscopy a biopsy (a sample of the lining of the bowel for closer examination under the microscope) may be taken using tiny biopsy forceps passed through the colonoscope. The video camera on the colonoscope transmits images of the inside of the colon to a monitor, allowing the endoscopist to examine the lining of the colon for any disease or abnormalities. The colonoscopy is a long flexible tube, about the thickness of your index finger, with a bright light and video camera at its tip. In order to do the test a colonoscope is carefully passed through the anus into the rectum and advanced through the intestine. Diagnostic colonoscopy is recommended for persistent change in bowel habit, occult or frank blood in the stool, unexplained anaemia and as a screening test for colon cancer. Colonoscopy is a test which allows the endoscopist to directly examine the lining of the large intestine (the colon).
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