What to expect
Most people who have had a colonoscopy say that the hardest part was the bowel preparation the day before. With proper sedation, most people find that the test is not uncomfortable and many are asleep during the procedure and do not remember it afterwards.
The Risks and Benefits
Colonoscopy is the best test to prevent colon cancer, but it is also the most invasive of the screening options. The risks of colonoscopy include:
- the bowel preparation. Rare electrolyte abnormalities are possible. If you have renal disease, be sure to tell your physician.
- cardiac and respiratory risks from the sedation.
- a small risk of bleeding and infection. The risk of bowel perforation (making a hole in the bowel with the colonoscope) is about 1 in 3,000 for a diagnostic procedure, but if polyps need to be removed, the risk increases to 1 in 1,500. If a perforation occurs, surgery is usually needed. It is possible to reach the end of the large bowel 95% of the time. If the colonoscopy cannot be completed then a back-up test such as a barium enema may be ordered to assess the remaining colon. There is a small rate of not seeing colonic lesions. That said, colonoscopy is the best test that exists for evaluating the colon. People who have a history of abdominal surgery or bowel obstruction undergo a small risk that colonoscopy may precipitate a bowel obstruction.
The primary benefit of colonoscopy is that it reduces your chance of dying from colon cancer by about 80%.
A good article from the CBC called "A kinder, gentler colonoscopy?" is available online. It provides comments from patients who have had the procedure. We do not endorse this information, but is is interesting to read as you learn about cancer screening.
The Procedure
You will need to take a bowel preparation starting the day before the colonoscopy using the preparation instructions.
When you arrive at the clinic you will be registered. A nurse will place an intravenous catheter. You will then enter the procedure room where you will meet the physician. Most people fall asleep with the sedative medications and wake up once the test is completed. If you wish to watch the procedure or to have less or no sedation, please discuss this with your physician.
After your endoscopy you will rest in the recovery room for about an hour. We will give you a written summary of the results to take home with you. A report will be sent to your referring physician.
You cannot drive a motor vehicle or operate machinery for 24 hours after having the sedation.
Follow-Up
If you wish to discuss the results of your procedure or any biopsies taken during your colonoscopy, you may book an appointment with The Reimer Clinic. You may also discuss the findings with your family physician. Biopsy results will be available about three weeks after your procedure.
