DownloadColonoscopy-AGuidetotheProcedure-Dr.docVIP

Colonoscopy The time of your arrival will be indicated on your letter. This is to allow time for your assessment and admission to be completed by the nurses. Your actual procedure time will therefore differ from your arrival time and you may well be in the hospital for the whole morning or afternoon. Please be prepared for what may be a long wait if unforeseen alterations to the consultant’s list occur. Bring a good book with you! Why do I need to have a colonoscopy? ■ Investigation of your large bowel may be necessary to help find the cause of your symptoms, help with treatment and, if necessary, to decide on further investigation. ■ Follow-up inspection of previous disease. ■ Assessing the clinical importance of the abnormality seen on an x-ray. ■ A barium enema examination or a CT scan are alternative investigations to colonoscopy, but samples of the bowel cannot be taken if an abnormality is found. A subsequent endoscopic examination may be required. What is a colonoscopy? A colonoscopy is a very accurate procedure in which the doctor uses an instrument called a colonoscope to look directly at the lining of the large bowel (colon). A colonoscope is a long flexible tube about the thickness or your index finger which transmits a picture to a TV screen. This allows the endoscopist to have a very clear view to establish if there is any disease or inflammation present. The test also allows samples of tissue (biopsy) from the lining of the bowel to be taken and sent to the pathology department if necessary. The collection of tissue is painless and these samples are retained for further testing should this be required. A video recording and/or photographs may be taken for your records. The procedure will be performed by your consultant and we will make the examination as comfortable as possible for you. When you are having your colonoscopy you will usually be given sedation. Current medication If you are taking Warfarin or Clopidogrel please make sure that your con