Colonoscopy

What is a Colonoscopy?

A Colonoscopy helps diagnose the cause of symptoms such as persistent diarrhoea or a change in bowel habits.

How a Colonoscopy works

A long, thin, flexible tube with a small camera at the end is inserted into your back passage to view inside the colon and intestines.

What to expect when receiving a Colonoscopy

Before your appointment

Your consultant will tell you what to eat and drink before the test and when to stop. You may also have to take laxatives before the Colonoscopy.

At your appointment

You’ll change into a hospital gown. The consultant may offer painkillers, sedation, or gas and air.

A thin tube with a small camera goes into your back passage. The consultant pumps air into your bowels to help open them, which may make you feel bloated. The tube moves through your large bowel, which may give you stomach cramps. The consultant will remove any growths, explore the area, and take samples.

After your appointment

You’ll move into a recovery room where the nurses will monitor you. You can go home when you feel ready.

If you had a sedative you should arrange transport home and for someone to stay with you for 24 hours. You must also wait in recovery while a nurse checks your blood pressure.

Risks and complications of a Colonoscopy

A Colonoscopy is generally safe. However, it’s important to understand the risks and symptoms of the procedure. You may:

• Have blood in your stool or bleeding from your bottom
• Have a high temperature
• Have severe stomach pain

Some of these symptoms could indicate a tear in the bowel or an infection. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your GP or 111.

How to recover following a Colonoscopy

If you haven’t had a sedation, you can leave the hospital shortly after the procedure and resume your daily activities. If you are had a sedative, you should be able to carry on normal activities within a day.

When might I need a Chromoendoscopy

It may be requested by your referrer that you require a Chromoendoscopy. Also known as chromoscopy and chromocolonoscopy, this refers to the application of topical stains or dyes during the Colonoscopy to enhance tissue differentiation or facilitate identification of abnormalities. This may be particularly useful for detecting flat or depressed lesions. A standard colonoscopy uses white-light to view the colon. In chromoendoscopy, stains are applied, resulting in colour highlighting of areas of tissue differences and abnormalities. The dyes or stains are applied via a spray catheter that is inserted down the working channel of the endoscope. Chromoendoscopy can be used in the whole colon on an untargeted basis or can be directed to a specific lesion or lesions (targeted chromoendoscopy).

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