During the procedure, polyps (small tissue growths that might develop into cancer) may be removed. Small tissue samples (biopsies) may be taken and sent to the laboratory to determine what type of disease is present. The procedure is usually performed as day surgery.
While a colonoscopy is not considered a surgery, the procedure does involve some risks and should be discussed with your doctor prior to undergoing the procedure. A colonoscopy is an endoscopic procedure that allows your doctor to view the inside of your large intestine, or colon.
What are the procedures used for? An endoscopy and a colonoscopy are both invasive, nonsurgical procedures used to visualise parts of your digestive tract.
During the colonoscopy, if the doctor sees something that may be abnormal, small amounts of tissue can be removed for analysis (called a biopsy), and abnormal growths, or polyps, can be identified and removed. In many cases, colonoscopy allows accurate diagnosis and treatment without the need for a major operation.
Q: Is colonoscopy a day surgery? A: Yes, a colonoscopy is undertaken as a day procedure in the hospital. Patients usually recover from the sedation within 30 – 60 minutes of the procedure and can go home on the same day.
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.
The First Week after a Colonoscopy
After polyps are removed it can take up to a week for the patient to fully recover. During this time, patients should avoid all strenuous activities, which includes lifting anything over five pounds.
What are the risks of colonoscopy? A study of screening colonoscopies found roughly 4 to 8 serious complications for every 10,000 procedures. Bleeding and perforation are the most common complications from colonoscopy. Most cases of bleeding occur in patients who have polyps removed.
A polypectomy is the surgical removal of a polyp. Colon polyps can be removed through open abdominal surgery, but more commonly it is performed during a colonoscopy.
The entire procedure usually takes 20-30 minutes. Thanks to the sedatives you were given, you'll likely sleep through the whole thing. Most patients don't remember anything from the actual procedure. If any abnormalities were noted during the colonoscopy, your doctor will discuss these with you after the procedure.
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.
The sedation used for colonoscopy is very different from general anesthesia used for many surgeries. While some anesthetic agents may have greater risk for cognitive decline than others, the risk for the sedatives in colonoscopy appears to be very small. There are risks to a screening colonoscopy.
Your body is completely covered during the exam.
You may be wondering how much of your body is exposed during a colonoscopy. But don't worry about being embarrassed or exposed — you will wear a hospital gown, and a sheet provides extra covering.
For patients with private health insurance who had a Colonoscopy in a private setting across all of Australia, 17% had an out-of-pocket cost. Of those: Patients typically paid: $150, Medicare paid: $560, Insurer typically paid: $470. Typical specialists' fees: $1,200.
The colonoscopy lasts for between 25 to 45 minutes. Most people have a mild anaesthetic or sedation to minimise any pain or discomfort. The sedation also means you may remember very little of the procedure or nothing at all.
On the day of the procedure, you will likely be given an anaesthetic so you don't feel any pain or discomfort. As you may feel drowsy or weak prior to and after the colonoscopy it is best to arrange someone to drop you off at the hospital before the procedure and take you home afterwards.
A gastroenterologist, the specialist who usually performs a colonoscopy, can't tell for certain if a colon polyp is precancerous or cancerous until it's removed and examined under a microscope.
If the colonoscopy finds one or two small polyps (5 mm in diameter or smaller), you are considered at relatively low risk. Most people will not have to return for a follow-up colonoscopy for at least five years, and possibly longer.
If a doctor discovers polyps, they will often remove them via a colonoscopy or laparoscopy. The doctor will then send any removed polyps to a pathologist for a biopsy to see if cancer is present. If the biopsy reveals that cancer is present, then cancer specialists will outline a treatment plan for the person.
Low-risk procedures: Diagnostic (EGD, colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy) including biopsy.
Colorectal polyps and early-stage colorectal cancers are often first found during a colonoscopy. In this case, your healthcare provider might be able to completely remove the polyp or cancer by passing small tools through the tube used to do the colonoscopy. No surgical incision (cut) is needed.
Don't worry; we won't take it personally. Fear of colonoscopy is a very common phobia. However, there's no need to fear a colonoscopy procedure. Anxiety over the unknown is often the scariest part of a colon screening.
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.
After the procedure
You may feel bloated or pass gas for a few hours after the exam, as you clear the air from your colon. Walking may help relieve any discomfort. You may also notice a small amount of blood with your first bowel movement after the exam. Usually this isn't cause for alarm.