Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy
- Open access colonoscopy is a procedure schedules for patients with no prior consultation by a Gastroenterologist. This modality of testing or direct access to test has shown to have multiple advantages where there is less waiting time for patients and easy access to specialist services. Patients can obtain direct referrals from their GP’s to access this test. All the referrals received through this way are screened for appropriateness of referral and patient should be reassured that appropriate follow-up will be arranged.
- Patients will be contacted by team to confirm the patient acceptance and preparedness of the procedure. An informed consent is sent through via email and or discussed at the time of the procedure. Patients will be given an opportunity to address any questions they have on this procedure and their medical problems at the time of the procedure.
- This procedure is not suitable for patients who are anticoagulation medications, poorly controlled diabetes, or any heart problems. In these cases, we advise to have consultation prior to the test.
- Colonoscopy is an examination performed to diagnosed various problems like chronic diarrhoea, unexplained weight loss, unexplained anaemia, rectal bleeding and noticing blood or altered blood in stool, for a positive FOBT (Government Bowel cancer screening stool test), abdominal pain, suspected inflammation in the bowel and to detect any polyps in patients who have family history of bowel cancer. This is also performed as surveillance examination if patients had prior symptoms or had polyps on previous examinations.
- A colonoscope is a thin, long, flexible tube with a ‘video camera’ at the tip. This is pass through the rectum into the colon (large intestine, large bowel) and last part of small bowel called terminal ileum. This allows us to inspect the colon and to perform specialised procedures such as taking biopsies for pathology and removal of polyps (abnormal growths which sometimes develop into cancer)
- For a colonoscopy to be successful, it is essential to empty the bowel thoroughly of all waste material. This is done by taking a bowel preparation that will cause diarrhoea. If the colon is not clean, the examination cannot be done properly, and patients may be asked to have another procedure.
- Please refer to standard bowel preparation form attached.
- This procedure is performed under light sedation.
- Minimum of 4 hours nil by mouth is recommended. Patients who are having diabetes prolonged fasting times may be recommended. Individualised care plan will be discussed with patients if required prior to the test. An empty stomach is essential for a safe for this examination.
- Medications particularly like blood-thinning medications such as aspirin products, clopidogrel (Plavix®), ticagrelor (Brilinta®), warfarin, rivaroxaban (Xarelto®), apixaban (Eliquis®) and dabigatran (Pradaxa®), as well as any diabetes medications or insulin may required to be temporarily ceased before the test. Most of the time, the diabetic medication dose may be adjusted prior to the test. If there are any allergies, it is important that you mention at the time of the test.
- We encourage that you mention all your medical problems prior to the test and if you are having CPAP machine at home, please bring this with you for the test, you might need this in recovery.
- This procedure is very safe and minimal complications, like nausea and vomiting, faintness, or dizziness, especially when you start to move around and uncommon complications About 1 person in every 1,000 will accidentally get a hole (perforation) to the bowel causing leakage of bowel contents into the abdomen or bleeding from this procedure. Surgery may be needed to repair the hole. Rarely, surgery is needed to stop bleeding. Rest of the procedure and anaesthetic related questions will be discussed at the time of the procedure.
- Total procedure time would be 30-40 minutes.
- All these procedures are mostly performed in day care units, where patient’s will be discharged the same day.
- Post discharge instructions will be given at the end of the procedure.
- Responsible Adult should be accompanied to take you home and to take care of you for the next 24 hours.
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