How does the colonoscopy procedure work? The colonoscope is a small, lighted camera attached to the end of a long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter. Your provider inserts the colonoscope through your anus and slowly advances it through your colon to the end, where it meets your small intestine.
You may need a catheter (fine plastic drain tube) put in your front passage to drain the urine from your bladder until you are able to pass urine comfortably on your own.
Colonoscopy is proven to reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. Due to the limitations of existing hospital gowns, the buttocks and genitals are often exposed during the procedure.
This type of anesthetic renders you completely unconscious, and your breathing is impaired, so a breathing tube, ventilator, and inhalation anesthetic are used.
Normally the endoscope is passed into the colon through the anus, but for your investigation it will be inserted through your stoma. During the procedure the endoscopist may need to take some small tissue samples (called biopsies) or remove polyps, which are growths on the wall of the bowel.
In some cases, after the surgeon removes a portion of the colon, it may be necessary to attach the remaining colon to the outside of the body in a procedure called colostomy. Creating a hole (stoma) in the abdominal wall allows waste to leave the body. A colostomy bag attaches to the stoma to collect the waste.
As there are no nerve endings in a stoma it should not hurt at all. You might feel a sensation when it is active but it does not hurt. Additionally, you cannot control when your stoma is active as it has no muscle.
A typical screening colonoscopy for a generally healthy adult will take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. Since the entire colonoscopy (from start to finish) is performed with sedation from the anesthesia physician or CRNA/CAA, this means you will be asleep for 15 to 45 minutes.
Most colonoscopies take only 15-30 minutes to complete. As a reminder, most patients recall feeling minimal to no pain or discomfort during the procedure. After the colonoscopy is done, you will be observed in a recovery area until the effects of the anesthesia wear off.
Propofol works quickly; most patients are unconscious within five minutes. "When the procedure is over and we stop the intravenous drip, it generally takes only 10 to 15 minutes before he or she is fairly wide awake again.”
Do not shave your abdomen (stomach) or pubic hair. Shaving before your surgery gives you a higher chance of getting an infection. A person from the health-care team will use clippers to get you ready for surgery if hair needs to be removed.
Healthcare Providers (2) Harsha Vittal, M.D. No, you do not need to shave prior to having a colonoscopy procedure.
You may keep most clothing on for upper endoscopy as well as comfortable shirt and socks for colonoscopy. Women may keep their bra on for the procedure. Please do not wear lotions, oils or perfumes/cologne to the center due to the monitoring devices.
A patient who's been anesthetized with general anesthesia isn't able to control their urination. Because of this, the surgical team will usually place a Foley catheter before performing the procedure. This ensures that the bladder stays empty and the operation is clean and sterile.
At most hospitals, the placement of an indwelling catheter is considered standard for surgical procedures that: Are expected to last one hour or longer. Involve the urinary tract. Will require the patient to go to the ICU after surgery.
A suprapubic catheter is a type of indwelling catheter. Rather than being inserted through your urethra, the catheter is inserted through a hole in your abdomen and then directly into your bladder. This procedure can be carried out under general anaesthetic, epidural anaesthetic or local anaesthetic.
You can start eating regular foods the next day. Keep eating light meals if you are not able to pass gas and still feel bloated. For the first 24 hours after your procedure: Do not drink alcohol.
For the procedure, you'll lie on a table while the doctor inserts a colonoscope through your anus and into your rectum and colon. The scope inflates your large intestine with air for a better view. The camera sends a video image to a monitor, allowing the doctor to examine your large intestine.
Everyone's experience is different, but you can rest assured that the colonoscopy itself is painless. You will receive anesthesia so that you don't feel pain or remember the procedure. Most centers use medications that stop working quickly. That means you shouldn't feel any lingering side effects.
Due to the sedation, it is unlikely the patient will remember the colonoscopy itself. Once the procedure is over, the patient will need about 30-60 minutes to recover from the sedation before getting dressed and leaving the building.
Is it normal to have pain a week after a colonoscopy? No, any pain or discomfort after a colonoscopy should resolve in a day. If you are still in pain beyond a day after your procedure, contact your care team.
For your safety, do not drive, operate machinery, or power tools for at least 8 hours after getting sedation. Your doctor may tell you not to drive or operate machinery until the day after your test. Do not sign legal documents or make major decisions for at least 8 hours after getting sedation.
About Your Wet Colostomy
After your surgery, your urine (pee) and stool (poop) will leave your body through your wet colostomy stoma. Your stoma will have 2 parts (see Figure 1): A urinary diversion. Your urine will flow from your kidneys, through your ureters, and out of your body through your urinary diversion.
Colostomy bags can have an unpleasant odor, causing embarrassment for patients who wear one. There are ways to prevent smells from your colostomy bag.
Fizzy drinks and 'burping' your stoma bag
Remove your bag from your clothing and hold the outlet up towards you, so that your bag is in a U shape, open the outlet and slowly press down on the bag so that only the air is expelled.