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What is Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure used to examine the inside of your large intestine (colon and rectum). A colonoscope is used during the examination (sometimes called a scope).

This flexible instrument is very long and includes a camera and the ability to remove tissue (you won’t feel the tissue being removed). A colonoscopy is commonly used to evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms, such as bleeding, abdominal pain or changes in bowel habits (how often you poop, how easily you poop, and the color and consistency of your poop).

Preparing for a colonoscopy procedure

There may be some diet or fluid restrictions before you have a colonoscopy, but this will vary according to your doctor’s instructions. You may be asked to limit or eliminate solid foods for a few days before the test. You may also be asked to take laxatives by mouth. 

Make sure you arrange for a driver to bring you home after the colonoscopy. Because you receive sedating medication during the procedure, it is unsafe for you to drive or operate machinery for 8 hours after the procedure.

Credit: WebMD

Management of inflammatory bowel disease

Although many patients do not require colonoscopy for the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the procedure is an important aid in the follow-up care and management of patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease (see the images below). Colonoscopy is more sensitive than barium enema in determining the anatomic extent of the inflammatory process and is useful when clinical, sigmoidoscopic, and radiologic studies are inadequate.

Final Thoughts

Here is a final thought about colonoscopies. Many people avoid them because they find the idea embarrassing and the preparation to be unpleasant. However, people often ask themselves and their care providers how we can prevent something from happening. Here is one way: colonoscopies can stop colon cancer before it starts.

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