Your pediatrician may recommend that your child undergo a procedure to check his colon, or large intestine, called a lower GI endoscopy. Depending on your child's age, you will need to help him prepare for the procedure, and you may be able to explain what will happen to alleviate his fears. Talk to his doctor about the risks and benefits of the procedure.
Types
Depending on the type of scope used, your child may have a colonoscopy or a flexible sigmoidoscopy. A colonoscopy allows the doctor to see more of the colon than a sigmoidoscopy does, but for the most part, the procedures are very similar. During a colonoscopy, your child's doctor will be able to check the entire large intestine. With a sigmoidoscopy, the doctor will examine the lower part of the large intestine, along with the rectum.
Indications
Some indications that your child may be a candidate for one of these screening tests include unexplained chronic or acute diarrhea, or blood or pus in the stool. Or, there may be a need to take a biopsy of a growth or polyp or to remove a growth or polyp. If your child has had unexplained weight loss or abdominal pain, a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy can rule out or confirm various conditions. In some cases, these tests are performed as a follow up after other tests have indicated a problem.
Preparation
The preparation that you will need to do with your child depends on the exact procedure being performed. Talk to her doctor to be sure you understand what to do. If she is having a sigmoidoscopy, she may be able to eat breakfast that morning, and you will need to give her an enema to clean out the lower portion of her large intestine. For a colonoscopy, your child will need a completely clean colon, and the preparation often includes drinking a liquid that will stimulate a bowel movement, fasting for a period of time and having an enema.
Procedure
During either procedure, your child may or may not be sedated or receive general anesthesia. This decision depends on your child's age, which procedure he is having and how well the doctor expects him to cooperate. Your child will lie on his side while the doctor inserts the colon tube into his rectum and into the colon. A tiny camera on the end of the tube will take photos of the lining of the colon, and the doctor will evaluate the findings. In some cases, biopsies and growths or polyps may be removed at this time.
Side Effects and Risks
When using sedatives or general anesthesia, the most common side effects include vomiting, chills and shaking. Your child may have a sore throat if a throat tube is used for anesthesia. In rare cases, your child may have a reaction to the anesthesia or may suffer breathing or heart problems during the procedure. Discuss your concerns about anesthesia with her physician. Very rarely, a colon tube may perforate your child's colon. If the doctor took a biopsy, there may be bleeding at the biopsy site.
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