A colonoscopy is a procedure that enables a doctor to examine the lining of a person’s colon, or large intestine. The screening is conducted by inserting a flexible fiber optic or video endoscope into the anus and slowly up into the rectum and colon. Sometimes patients undergo a less invasive procedure called a virtual colonoscopy, which uses MRI or computed tomography scans to produce three-dimensional images of the colon and rectum.

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Before the procedure, you will need to make sure that your colon is completely clean. Usually this requires consuming a large volume of a special cleansing solution or clear liquids and special laxatives. Some drugs interfere with the preparation or the exam, so you should make sure your doctor knows in advance if you’re taking any medications.

Colonoscopies usually last 15 to 60 minutes and rarely cause any pain. It is possible that you will feel pressure, bloating, or cramping. You may be given a sedative to help you relax and tolerate any discomfort.

If your doctor thinks you need additional evaluation, during the examination he or she may obtain a biopsy to be analyzed. Sometimes polyps are found during the procedure, and the doctor is likely to remove them right then. Polyps are abnormal growths in the colon lining that are usually noncancerous. But because cancer can start in polyps, removing them is essential for preventing colorectal cancer.

ADDITIONAL FACTS

  1. After a colonoscopy, you should not drive yourself home or stay alone if you were given a sedative. You may have cramping and bloating because of the air that enters the colon during the examination. This will disappear quickly as you pass gas. You’ll probably be able to eat right away, unless you had a polyp removed. In that case, your activity may be restricted as well as your diet.
  2. Complications from colonoscopy are rare, but it is possible that a tear in the bowel wall requiring surgery could occur. Additionally, sometimes bleeding occurs at the site of a biopsy or the removal of a polyp. You should contact your doctor immediately if you have severe abdominal pain, fever and chills, or a lot of rectal bleeding.