What is colonoscopy for what purpose and how is it performed?

In the presence of abnormalities in the functioning of the intestine, the most optimal method to study it in detail is the colonoscopy procedure.

Thanks to her specialist can see the contents of the internal organ. Based on the results of the study, doctors determine the cause of the disorder in the organ being diagnosed, and also prescribe an effective treatment.

What is the procedure?

Colonoscopy is a medical procedure that allows a thorough examination of the intestinal mucosa.

It is carried out with the help of special equipment called a colonoscope. It in turn is represented in the form of an optical fiber device.

Thanks to modern developments, doctors have a unique opportunity to investigate the processes that occur in the large intestine of a person.

It is commonly believed that this kind of event is also a curative and preventive procedure. The research is carried out under stationary conditions under the strict supervision of specialists.

Who is assigned the study?

Conducting a colonoscopy is recommended in order to identify the causes of the following symptoms:

• constant diarrhea and difficulties in the process of defecation ( here you can also refer the problem hemorrhoids);
• profuse hemorrhage in the rectum or clump of blood clots in the feces;
• mucus secretion from the intestine ;
• rapid fatigability of the person, constant weakness and weighted breathing .

The most common procedure allows to identify such deviations:

• inflammatory processes in the body, they can include ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease;
• constipation is chronic;
• hemorrhoids;
• presence of polyps in the intestine;
• colorectal cancer.

Conducting coloscopy, a specialist, depending on the situation, may decide to take a tissue sample for further study.

If necessary, during the examination, polyps can be removed. They are benign formations. But if they are not removed in time, the polyps grow into a cancerous tumor.

Even though this procedure is the best for studying the intestinal mucosa, in some situations the doctor may not see all that interests him. Similar cases occur in about 5% of studies.

This situation can be caused by a filled intestine or by the inability of a colonoscope to move along the entire length of the intestine.

Colonoscopy is a modern study, therefore its capabilities are quite wide range:

• with the procedure it is possible to extract foreign bodies from the rectum ;
• it is possible to restore the intestinal passableness of the if its sharp narrowing occurred;
• to remove the formed polyps and tumors ;
• procedure allows timely stop bleeding in the intestine ;
• with this method it is possible to take samples of tissues for further histological examination of their origin.

Colonoscopy is mandatory for carrying out in cases of having relatives with a course of colon cancer. It is also performed with suspicion of any intestinal diseases.

Contraindications for colonoscopy

It is necessary to know that conducting a colonoscopy is strictly prohibited in such cases:

• infectious diseases of an acute nature of the course;
• diagnosis of peritonitis;
• severe degree of pulmonary or congestive heart failure;
• severe course of ulcerative and ischemic colitis.

In order to establish whether there are any such violations in the patient, you need to undergo a preliminary examination. But on its basis the specialist will make a conclusion and make a decision regarding further measures of therapy of the disease.

Preparing for the

procedure To obtain accurate and correct examination results in the intestine, there should be no liquid and stool.

For this purpose, a special preparation for a colonoscopy is preliminary, which is as follows:

1. A couple of days before the study, the patient must follow the diet of , which should consist of legumes, fresh vegetables and fruits, cabbage, black bread and some types of cereals.
2. It is compulsory to perform a complete cleansing of the intestine .This can be done in several ways. The first is the taking of Fortran. It must be consumed for one day before the study itself. The second one consists of 2-3 cleansing enemas. They must be done before bedtime, as well as the day before the event itself.

How is the research conducted?

The duration of a colonoscopy lasts from 30 to 45 minutes. The patient is required to wear a special shirt, and shorts with a cut.

Diagnostic steps:

1. Before starting the study, the patient is dressed with an oxygen mask , which will support his breathing and intravenously inject painkillers.
2. Before entering the patient's colonoscope, place the patient on the left side and lubricate the device with Vaseline-based lubricant .It helps to reduce the feeling of discomfort.
3. To see all the necessary intestines throughout the procedure will be filled with air .At this time the patient can feel a strong bloating, while gases can form. If necessary, the doctor may have a colonoscope under different inclinations. The patient will not feel any pain.
4. All images are transferred to the computer monitor .Therefore, if a section can not be considered in more detail, the slope and location of the camera can be regulated by the .
5. If, however, pathological abnormalities are found during the examination, the specialist can extract tissue samples of .They will be needed in order to determine the nature of the emerging tumors.
6. If polyps are found on the intestinal wall, is immediately deleted.
7. At the end of the procedure, the patient is asked to take a deep breath of , after which the colonoscope is carefully removed from the rectum.

More detailed information about how the colonoscopy is performed and how the intestinal polyps look like can be seen from the video:

Painless result of

The procedure of colonoscopy is painless, as during the study the patient is given intravenous pain medication.

The patient can only feel some discomfort and bloating while the colonoscope is in his bowel.

Possible complications of

Most often, no complications arise.

In rare cases, the following deviations may occur:

1. After removal of the polyp or sampling, bleeding is observed for some time. They are not abundant and quite quickly stop.
2. Side effects may cause drug administration .
3. Gaps in the intestinal walls of the practically do not occur. Everything will depend on the experience of the specialist who is conducting the research.

Opinion of the examined patients

Reviews of patients who have been examined colonoscopy of the intestine.

MRI or colonoscopy?

Of course, the same method of colonoscopy allows you to get more extensive information than when conducting magnetic resonance imaging. Usually, MRI is performed as an auxiliary examination.

Colonoscopy of the intestine, although it is not the most pleasant procedure, but because of its informative nature it makes it possible to get the widest picture of intestinal diseases.

With competent preparation for the examination and on condition that you refer to an experienced specialist, you should not be afraid of possible complications and all the more pain!