- When you print this information it is important that you choose the morning or afternoon preparation depending on the time of the procedure.
- After you have printed off the sheets under "afternoon" or "morning" as appointments you should also print off "general", "tips", "safety" and "questionnaire" to complete your handout.
- PLEASE USE THE "PRINTER FRIENDLY" BUTTON TO GET A PRINTABLE PAGE.
- You should read all these forms carefully. If there is any confusion you should ring my rooms at 55913155.
COLONOSCOPY
SAFETY AND RISKS
Colonoscopy is generally
a safe procedure.
For
inspection of the bowel alone, complications of colonoscopy are uncommon.
Most surveys report complications in 1 of 1500 - 2000 examinations.
Complications which can occur include:
- An intolerance to the bowel preparation - rare
- A reaction to sedatives - very uncommon
- Perforation (hole in the bowel) - very rare ,but, if it occurs, it may cause serious illness requiring extended hospitalisation
- Significant bleeding can occur - this is rare and usually settles spontaneously
When operations such as removal of polyps are carried out at the time of examination there is a slightly higher risk of perforation or bleeding from the site where the polyp has been removed.
Complications of sedation are uncommon and are usually avoided by administering
oxygen during the procedure and monitoring oxygen levels in the blood. Rarely
however, in patients with severe cardiac or chest disease, serious sedation
reactions can occur. The anaethetist will discuss this with you before the procedure.
Please feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss any of this information
A number of rare side effects can occur with any endoscopic procedure. Death
is a remote possibility with any interventional procedure.
Because of the risk of cancer, it is recommended that all polyps found at the
time of the colonoscopy be removed. However, it will not be possible to discuss
the removal with you at the time of examination as you will be sedated. Therefore,
if you agree to removal of any polyps found during the procedure, please sign
the Consent Form. If you have any queries or reservations about this please
inform me.
In the unlikely event of haemorrhage occurring, blood transfusion may be necessary.
If there are any religious or other grounds for avoiding a blood transfusion
please let me know.
AFTERWARDS
The sedative painkiller you are given before the procedure is very effective
in reducing any discomfort. However, it may also effect your memory for some
time afterwards. Even when all the sedative appears to have worn off, you may
find you are unable to recall details of your discussion with the doctor. For
this reason, a relative or friend should come with you if possible. If you
do not recall discussions following the procedure, you should contact your doctor
or my rooms.
If you have any severe abdominal pain, bleeding from the back passage, fever,
or other symptoms that cause you concern, you should contact my rooms or your
doctor immediately.
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