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Ask the Experts
E
x p e r t A d v i c e
Dr. James Gianfrancisco is Board Certified
in Surgery and Colon Rectal Surgery and director of the Colonoscopy
Center.
Q: What is Colonoscopy?
A: Colonoscopy is a
test that allows us to examine the inner lining of your large intestine
(rectum and colon). We use a thin, flexible tube called a colonoscope
to look at the colon. The
colonoscope ranges from 48 in. to 72 in.
long. A tiny video camera is attached to the colonoscope so that we
can take pictures or video of the colon.
Before this test, you will need to clean out your colon
(colon prep). Colon prep is done the evening before the test. For many
people, the prep for a colonoscopy is more trying than the actual test.
Plan to stay home during your prep time since you will need to use the
bathroom often. The colon prep causes loose, frequent stools so that
your colon will be empty for the test. The colon prep also requires a
clear liquid diet. You will need to drink a special solution as part of
your prep. Clear fruit juices or soft drinks after the prep can help
the salty taste of the prep solution.
During the colonoscopy you are sedated and given pain
medication or anesthesia (which ever you prefer) to make this test
painless and easy to accomplish. After the test you will wake up in the
recovery room and from there you will be taken home by a friend or
relative to relax for the rest or the day. The findings of your test
are available immediately but the biopsies or cultures will take a few
days to process. Once the final report is available, both you and your
doctor will be notified of your results.
This
test is recommended to be done for everyone without a family history of
colon cancer between the age of 50 and 55 with a repeat examination
every 5 years or so. If you have polyps the test is done at shorter
intervals . If you have bowel symptoms, bleeding, or a history of
polyps or cancer in your family, the test should be done before 50.
Diagram of a colon
