Saturday, September 24, 2016

By Pamela Bailey


Colonoscopy refers to a certain kind of test that is used by doctors to look at the inner lining of the large intestine. This test is done using a thin, flexible tube referred to as colonoscope. The tube usually ranges in length from 125 cm to 183 cm. The colonoscope has a small video camera attached to one end to allow the doctor to take pictures of the colon. Morrilton AR colonoscopy specialists are well trained and experienced, making them worth considering.

The colonoscope functions as a camera to take videos and images of the colon lining. Images taken are usually of the entire colon and parts of the lower intestine. Another closely-related technique is called segmoidoscopy. This one is for capturing images of the rectum and parts of the lower small intestines. The two techniques get used in combination in most cases.

The colonoscope is inserted slowly into the colon to avoid any form of discomfort. The doctor may have to pump a small amount of air into the colon so as to keep it open. This makes observation much easier and the images produced much clearer. The pictures taken are usually projected on a TV screen where they can be observe and analyzed.

The examination usually takes about thirty minutes to complete depending on various factors. The patient may need to be sedated or give some other kind of medication to make them sleep while the process is being undertaken. It is advisable to bring someone along so that they can help one getting back home. The doctor usually determines how frequently the examination needs to be done. Usually, it will be done once in every ten years, unless one is at a higher risk of colon cancer.

Checking and diagnosis of various medical conditions can be done using this procedure. The techniques can be utilized to determine if one has ulcers, areas of bleeding and/or inflammation within the colon, tumors, and colon polyps. Abnormal growths are also removed during the process and tissues of the colon taken to perform biopsy on them. This test also checks for precancerous growths and rectal/colon cancer.

This test can also check the cause of various events such as diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, iron deficiency anemia, rectal bleeding, and dark or black stool. Sometimes, diagnostic tests such as barium anema, MRI, CT scan, stool test, and virtual colonoscopy produce abnormal results, and this procedure needs to be used to verify the cause. Inflammatory bowel disease is also watched and treated using this method as a test.

Prior to having the test done, it is required to clean out the colon. This is called colon prep. How long colon prep often depends on the type of preparation the doctor recommends, but will typically take two days. There are some preps that one needs to undertake on the evening of the test.

The preparation process is sometimes more uncomfortable to some individuals than the technique itself. Bowel prep causes a lot of discomfort, making it worse. Prep is characterized by hunger because people have to eat a clear liquid diet. People on prep use the bathroom frequently, which makes it important to stay close to one as much as possible.




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