end
of sigmoid colon
A
colonoscopy is a procedure which lets the physician view
your
entire colon in order to look for early signs of cancer in
the colon
and rectum. It is also used to diagnose the causes of
unexplained
changes in bowel habits. Colonoscopy enables
the physician to see
inflamed tissue, abnormal growths , ulcers,
and bleeding.
What
Is a Colonoscopy? For
the procedure, you will lie on your left side on an examining table. You
will be sedated to keep you comfortable during the procedure. The physicain will
insert a long, flexible, lighted tube into your rectum and slowly guide it into
your colon. The colonoscope transmits an image of the inside of the large
intestine, enabling the physician to carefully examine the lining of the colon.
This instrument also allows inflation of the colon with air, which
improves visualization for the physician. If
anything abnormal is seen in your colon, like a polyp or inflamed tissue, the
physician can remove all or part of it using tiny instruments passed through the
colonoscope. The tissue (biopsy) is then sent to a lab for testing.
Colonoscopy takes 20 to 30 minutes. After the procedure, you will
remain in recovery until the sedation wears off, typically about 30 minutes.
You must arrive 1 hour prior to your procedure,. Therefore, plan for
a total of 2 hours.
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