A colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure used to examine and evaluate the interior region of a patient's colon or intestinal tract. If a doctor suspects that a patient has colon polyps, colon cancer or colitis, she may recommend this procedure. The complications from a colonoscopy are rare, but should be discussed with a doctor before a patient undergoes this type of procedure.
Anal Bleeding
During a colonoscopy, a doctor sometimes removes small pieces of tissue from the inside of the intestinal wall for additional examination. A doctor may also remove polyps, which are small growths of tissue, that are attached to the colon. When a doctor removes these pieces of colon tissue, the intestinal wall can begin to bleed. If this occurs, the patient may notice small amounts of blood within the stools or from the anus. Anal bleeding complications are typically minor and can be promptly resolved, UpToDate reports. Rarely, excessive bleeding may occur following the removal of a large polyp. People who experience excessive or unusual anal bleeding within the first few days after having a colonoscopy should contact a doctor immediately.
Colon Damage
A doctor uses a small, lighted tool called a colonoscope to examine a person's colon during a colonoscopy. The doctor inserts the colonoscopy through the anus and into the rectum and colon. Rarely, a doctor can inadvertently damage or tear the colon while passing the colonoscope through the bowels, warns Dr. Mark Fagan with the Division of General Internal Medicine at Brown Medical School. Colon damage during a colonoscopy is typically detected immediately and usually requires additional surgery to repair the site of colon injury.
Abdominal Swelling
Proper visualization of the inside of the colon requires a doctor to pump small amounts of air into the bowel. Consequently, people can experience abdominal swelling, bloating or discomfort as complications of this procedure, Fagan reports. Abdominal bloating and swelling typically resolve within a day or two of testing as patients begin to pass the excess gas from the body. Patients who experience severe abdominal pain, vomiting, fever or an abnormally firm abdomen after a colonoscopy should seek immediate medical care.
