You’ll be taken into the procedure room and placed on a bed in a comfortable position, rolled on your left side.
Your doctor will pass the colonoscopy scope slowly and carefully into your colon. You may feel like you need to move your bowels, and because air is introduced to help advance the scope, you may feel some cramping or fullness. You'll probably have little or no discomfort.
Medical and nursing staff will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen level. If necessary, you may be given additional sedation.
If your doctor sees anything abnormal in your colon, like a polyp or inflamed tissue, they can remove all or part of it using tiny instruments passed through the scope. They’ll send the tissue sample (biopsy) to a lab for testing.
The procedure usually takes around 30 minutes, depending on the circumstances and whether any polyps are found and removed.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Information is provided by HCF in good faith for the convenience of members. It is not an endorsement or recommendation of any form of treatment nor is it a substitute for medical advice, and you should rely on the advice of your treating doctors in relation to all matters concerning your health. Every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, however HCF takes no responsibility for any injury, loss, damage or other consequences of the use of this information.