Colonoscopy examination is a medical examination in which the doctor s a tube (endoscope) into the body with a camera and light on the end, which films the endoscope inside the body and sends images directly to the TV screen in front of the doctor.
The doctor moves the endoscope, and it can also be used to take a biopsy, as well as to remove a polyp, or to stop a blood vessel bleeding.
A colonoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the lower digestive tract, including
Anus (anus).
The rectum.
The colon.
The last part of the small intestine (Terminal ileum).
The large intestine is divided into several parts according to the order of the flow of stool:
Rising colon.
Transverse colon.
Descending colon.
The sigmoid colon.
Unlike the upper GI tract, the lower GI tract is naturally filled with very dense contents, which almost completely prevent us from being able to look at the intestinal wall, so the bowel should be prepared before the colonoscopy by clearing it of stool.
As for the sigmoidoscopy examination, it is actually a short endoscopy of the colon from the anus to the sigmoid, and comes within the framework of the early detection of colorectal cancer, as most tumors usually appear in these parts of the colon.
In addition to the regular endoscope, an endoscope containing an ultrasound transducer can be used, which in turn gives information about these diseases located in or near the wall of the alimentary canal.
When is the examination performed?
Colonoscopy examination can be done according to a predetermined appointment, or on an urgent basis and often in hospitals, cases in which the examination is performed:
A survey of individuals who do not complain about anything.
Early detection of colon cancer.
Positive fecal occult blood cases.
Check for diarrhea, abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss.
Diagnosis of anemia.
Detection of changes in bowel function, and other signs that may indicate the presence of a tumor in the colon.
Assessment of the extent of colon tumor spread.
The at-risk category
Any colonoscopy exam carries some small risk of bleeding or perforation, but these risks are very small and reach less than 0.1% during a diagnostic colonoscopy. When colonoscopy is used for therapeutic activities, the risk of these complications rises to 2%.
It is important to note that in many cases these complications can be treated at once, but sometimes surgery is required.
Related diseases
Diseases related to this examination include the following
Colon cancer.
Arno''s familial syndrome.
Syndrome familial polyposis (FAP).
Hereditary non-polypoid colon cancer syndrome (HNPCC - colon cancer syndrome hereditary non - polyposis).
Polyps (Adenoids) in the colon.
Lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
Intestinal blockage.
How to perform the examination
Prepare for examination
Before the examination, the following must be adhered to
Inform the doctor if you have a problem with one of the heart valves, if you are told that you need to take antibiotics before surgery, if you have an artificial valve, or if you have had an infection in the heart valve in the past.
You must inform the doctor if you are allergic to a particular drug, and if you suffer from heart or lung diseases, and you must also inform the doctor about the presence of pregnancy.
Certain preparations should be made according to the doctor''s instructions, in general, a low-fiber diet should be maintained for 4 days before the test.
Clear liquids to which some sugar can be added should be consumed one day before the test.
Laxative pills should be taken on the day of the test and according to the doctor''s instructions.
Keep drinking plenty of water.
It may be required to give the patient an enema (Colon Cleansing) before the endoscopic examination.
If you have diabetes, you should consult your doctor about your diabetes levels one day before the test.
during the examination
You will be asked to lie on your side, and the doctor, a gastroenterologist, will the endoscope into the anus, and then raise it towards the top of the colon. When the end of the section to be examined is reached, the doctor will slowly remove the endoscope while looking at the walls of the intestine.
If any problem is detected, the doctor may do a biopsy in order to make a pathological diagnosis, for example to determine if there is a cancerous tumor.
You may feel mild abdominal pain during the colonoscopy exam, and taking slow, deep breaths may make the examination easier.
after examination
You are taken to the recovery room for about 30 minutes. You may feel abdominal pain and need to pass gas. This feeling passes after a short time. A member of the medical staff will hand you the results of the examination.
It should be noted to pay attention to the instructions attached to the discharge form from the hospital, as the patient may have to avoid taking blood-thinning drugs if the doctor took a biopsy from you.
Complications that need attention after an endoscopy examination
high temperature
severe abdominal pain
blood in stool
black stools
vomiting.
When one or more of these symptoms appear, you should go to the doctor as soon as possible.
Warnings
During pregnancy
The doctor should be informed if there is a pregnancy.
Driving
The colonoscopy test is often done under sedation or superficial sedation. You cannot drive within 8 to 12 hours after the examination, if you are not required to stay in the hospital after the test.
Analysis of the results
After the examination, the doctor will discuss the results with you. You may receive a sheet containing the details of the results. In addition, the results sheet may be accompanied by color images of the embodiment. The patient may be told that a biopsy was taken, and that he should wait for the result for several days or even 2 - 3 weeks.
Healthy endoscopic findings mean that there are no signs of abnormalities in the examination area.
Sometimes, because of poorly prepared bowels, the test may or may not provide reliable information, in which case you may have to repeat the endoscopy after adequate preparation.
