A colonoscopy is a procedure that allows a doctor to view the internal regions of the colon or intestine. During this exam, a doctor inserts a small, lighted camera called a colonoscope into a patient's anus. A doctor may recommend a colonoscopy to screen a patient for colon cancer or determine the cause of unusual rectal bleeding or bowel habit changes. Patients should discuss the potential complications after a colonoscopy with a doctor before undergoing this procedure.
Colon Perforation
During a colonoscopy, a doctor can inadvertently push the colonoscope through a patient's colon. This uncommon complication is called a colon perforation and can cause serious medical problems, warns UpToDate. A hole in the intestine allows bowel contents to leak out of the colon and into a patient's abdominal cavity. Symptoms of colon perforation can include severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or fever, explains MedlinePlus. Patients who experience colon perforation complications after a colonoscopy require immediate medical attention to repair the damaged intestine.
Intestinal Bleeding
A doctor may remove small pieces of tissue called polyps from a patient's colon during the colonoscopy procedure. Rarely, this tissue removal can cause bleeding as a complication after a colonoscopy, reports Aurora Health Care. Intestinal bleeding is typically minimal and resolves without further medical intervention. Patients who experience persistent or severe rectal bleeding after having a colonoscopy should contact a doctor immediately.
Sedative Reaction
Before having a colonoscopy, patients are normally given a sedative medication to decrease anxiety and make the procedure more comfortable. In certain instances, patients can experience a reaction to the sedative as a complication after a colonoscopy, according to UpToDate. Affected patients may feel nauseated or begin vomiting. If these sedative reaction side effects persist for more than a few hours after a colonoscopy, affected patients should consult a physician immediately.
