Your physician may order a colon test, or colonoscopy, for complaints of constipation, diarrhea, rectal bleeding or lower abdominal pain. The procedure utilizes a flexible scope with a tiny camera and light to visualize the lining of the large intestine. Prior to the procedure, you must follow a bowel preparation regimen that includes a specific diet and laxatives to clear the bowel of stool. Lack of thorough preparation may require rescheduling the procedure.
Test Preparation
Bowel preparation requires removal of food and stool from the gastrointestinal tract to improve visualization. For at least two days, you follow a clear liquid diet that includes tea, clear beef or chicken broth, gelatin, plain coffee and clear juices like apple juice. The night before the test, you take prescribed laxatives to further cleanse the bowel.
Colonoscopy Procedure
Procedurally, the position is on your left side, knees bent, with draping to cover exposed body parts. Heart and breathing monitor leads are applied and connected to the corresponding equipment. If you require a sedative, it may be administered at this time. The lubricated flexible scope is inserted into the rectum and advanced into the large intestine with air insufflation. Your vital signs are monitored before, during and after the procedure.
Normal and Abnormal Findings
The normal lining of the intestine is light pink to orange in color, shiny from mucous secretions and has folds and pits. Blood vessels are visible under the intestinal lining. The test may show bleeding sites, polyps, strictures, tumors or lesions, and sites of suspected conditions or diseases like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Biopsies are sent to the lab for further studies.
Risks
Noncompliance with pretest instructions may alter results, which could delay a diagnosis. Perforation of the large intestine, excessive bleeding and the escape of air into the tissue in the abdomen, called retroperitoneal emphysema, may occur but are rare, according to the American College of Surgeons. Cardiac abnormalities may include an irregular heart beat, low oxygen levels, low blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
Benefits
A colonoscopy carries a 90 percent sensitivity rate for detecting early stage colon cancer, according to the American College of Surgeons. The procedure can detect conditions and diseases that may be a part of your family history like polyps, colon cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases. Your physician may suggest a colonoscopy at time intervals relevant to your history as well as signs and symptoms.
Considerations
Inform your physician of all prescribed medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and supplements that you may be taking. Some medications may be held before the test or dosage and administration times altered. Those medications can include aspirin, arthritis medications, blood thinners, diabetic medications and vitamins that contain iron, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Warnings
Written instructions are provided for your recovery phase. Rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and bloating, a fever and possibly rectal drainage may indicate a bowel perforation. If a polyp was removed, you may notice your stool is tinged with blood. Call your physician if you notice excessive bleeding.
