Colonoscopy (Full Length)

A full length colonoscopy is an endoscopic examination where your doctor looks inside of the large bowel and the distal part of the small bowel. A fiber optic camera on a flexible tube is passed through the anus. Colonoscopy is used to determine the possible causes of certain disorders such as abdominal pain, rectal bleeding and colorectal cancer.

Colonoscopy preparation must be carried out by the patient prior to the procedure. Your doctor will ask you to follow a low fiber or clear-liquid only diet, so the colon must be free of solid matter. The day before the Colonoscopy, you may be given a laxative. You have to stop any blood thinning medication a week before the procedure to avoid the risk of bleeding during the procedure.

The Colonoscopy procedure starts by giving you a sedative, usually combined with an intravenous pain medication to minimize any discomfort. The colon will be air inflated by a channel, which provides a better view of the lining of the colon. Now the doctor puts a Colonoscope into your rectum to see the lining of your colon and tell if there is any problem.

Some of the colonoscopy complications that may result in certain cases include bleeding and tear in the colon or rectum wall.