About Colonoscopy

A colonoscopy procedure is the examination of the colon (also known as the large intestine) with a colonoscope. It is usually performed using “conscious sedation,” which refers to the use of medication that keeps you very relaxed and pain-free. It does not require general anesthesia, for which you would need a tube in the throat to help you breathe.

A colonoscope is a flexible tube with a small camera and a bright light on its tip. After insertion through the anus, the colonoscope is passed through the full length of the colon to the cecum, the place where the small intestine empties into the colon. During withdrawal of the instrument, the doctor carefully examines the lining of the colon.

If any abnormalities are detected, they can be biopsied or completely removed by inserting instruments through a channel that runs the length of the colonoscope. Any tissue that is removed is sent to a laboratory for microscopic examination to determine whether it is benign, cancerous (malignant) or precancerous (benign, but with the potential to become malignant later).

When

If you are 50 years or older, your doctor will probably recommend that you have a baseline colonoscopy to screen for the possibility of polyps or colorectal cancer. Depending on what is found during your first colonoscopy, your next exam might be scheduled anywhere from one to ten years later.

 

MKT 16034, Rev A