Specialist Surgeon | Female Health Care | Cape Town Mediclinic
A colonoscopy is an examination of the large bowel with a thin, flexible camera. It is used to investigate symptoms, to check for polyps and to take samples where needed. Sedation is usually offered.
Why Is a Colonoscopy Done?
A colonoscopy may be recommended to investigate:
- A change in bowel habit.
- Bleeding from the bottom.
- Anaemia.
- Known bowel conditions, such as colitis, that need review.
It is also used to look for polyps. Most bowel cancers develop from a type of polyp called an adenoma, and polyps found during a colonoscopy are often removed at the same time.
How Do I Prepare?
The bowel must be clear and empty for the lining to be seen properly. You will be given a bowel preparation, which acts as a strong laxative, together with diet instructions. These must be followed exactly; if the bowel is not clear, the examination may need to be repeated. How to Prepare for a Colonoscopy explains why preparation matters.
Tell your doctor in advance if you have diabetes or take blood-thinning medicine, long-term steroids, iron tablets or weight-loss injections. Some medicines need to be stopped or adjusted before the procedure.
What Happens During the Procedure?
You lie on your left side. Once you are sedated, the colonoscope is passed into the bowel and the whole of the large bowel is examined. Small tissue samples (biopsies) may be taken, and polyps may be removed. Your privacy is respected throughout.
What Happens Afterwards?
Because of the sedation, a responsible adult must collect you. Do not drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol or sign legal documents until you have been advised that it is safe. The findings are discussed with you, and any biopsy or polyp results follow once the laboratory has reported. More about polyps is in We Found a Polyp. What Does That Mean?
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be awake?
Sedation is usually offered. Your doctor will explain the options before the procedure.
Can polyps be removed during the same procedure?
Polyps found during a colonoscopy are often removed at the same time and sent to a laboratory for examination.
What if my bowel preparation is incomplete?
If the bowel is not clear, the views are limited and the examination may need to be repeated. Contact your doctor if you have difficulty with the preparation.
Is a colonoscopy the same as a gastroscopy?
No. A gastroscopy examines the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. See Gastroscopy vs. Colonoscopy.
If you have bowel symptoms or have been advised to have a colonoscopy, please arrange a consultation with Dr. Loots.
Book a ConsultationThis article provides general information only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are concerned about your health, please seek advice from a doctor.