Colonoscopy
Starting from the last part of the large intestine to the last part of the small intestine and examining it with video endoscopic devices is called colonoscopy.
What is Colonoscopy?
Colonoscopy is an examination that allows the inside of the large intestine to be seen and evaluated. In this procedure, a finger-thick flexible colonoscope instrument with a camera at the end is slowly pushed from the anus to the upper parts of the large intestine with air being pushed through it. Meanwhile, it is monitored on the screen, photographs are taken and recorded if necessary. Colonoscopy is performed to investigate blood in the stool, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, changes in defecation patterns or abnormal conditions seen on X-ray film or tomography. Those who have polyps in their bowel, polyps in close relatives, cancer and other large bowel diseases should have colonoscopy at regular intervals.
Why is colonoscopy performed?
Colonoscopy is used to diagnose and treat problems in the bowel. Patients over 50 years of age should have a colonoscopy every five years for bowel cancer screening. Apart from these, colonoscopy procedure; In case of blood in the anus, in case of blood in the stool, in case of a history of intestinal tumour or polyps in the intestine in first-degree relatives, in the presence of a suspicious condition detected during radiological imaging, in severe pain of unknown cause or in case of excessive weight loss of unknown cause, in intestinal irregularities such as chronic diarrhoea or constipation, Colonoscopy is used in the case of mucosal hernia in the wall of the large intestine, in the presence of anemia that does not improve in any way with supplements, in the follow-up and treatment of diagnosed colon cancer, in the follow-up and treatment of polyps detected in the colon, in the follow-up and treatment of infectious diseases in the intestine, in suspicious areas in the intestine showing chronic inflammation and when biopsy is required for pathological diagnosis.
How is colonoscopy performed?
After the patient is placed on the stretcher, both legs are pulled towards the chest, the patient is placed on the left side and examined by a specialist doctor. After the examination, anaesthesia is administered to sedate the patient. After the patient is sedated so that he/she is unresponsive to the anaesthesia, the colonoscopy device is started from the rectum and sent forward by the gastroenterologist. At this stage, air is introduced through the colonoscope and the large intestine is inflated. In this way, the inner surface of the large intestine becomes visible. Thanks to this procedure, which takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes, a small part of the large intestine and small intestine is thoroughly scanned with the colonoscope.
If the specialist encounters abnormal formations such as polyps during colonoscopy, he or she can carefully separate and remove these pathological formations. Depending on the condition and course of the disease, the specialist gastro-enterologist may take a biopsy from the patient at a suitable location if deemed necessary. After the colonoscopy procedure, the patient is allowed to recover from the sedation or anaesthesia. When the patient is fully conscious, he/she is taken to the patient room. If necessary, the patient is given painkillers. Depending on the condition of the disease, hospitalisation may sometimes be required after the colonoscopy procedure. After the biopsy and analyses of the intestinal swabs, the patient is given the necessary treatment.
Preparations Before Colonoscopy
- – All medications must be fully disclosed to the doctor before the colonoscopy.
- – Aspirin and blood thinners must be stopped beforehand.
- – The patient should inform the doctor about drug allergies and any other illnesses.
- – In order to get the correct result, eating and drinking rules and instructions for using bowel cleansing medicines must be strictly followed.
FOODS THAT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN
- – Vegetables, fruit (plums, figs, melons, watermelon, grapes, apples, oranges, tangerines, pomegranates, etc.)
- – All kinds of vegetable dishes (beans, chickpeas, potatoes, aubergines, aubergines, cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, etc.)
- – Sesame bagels, olives, garlic
- – All kinds of nuts, popcorn and corn
- – Spices such as red pepper, mint, ketchup and flavourings should not be used in meals.
FOODS TO TAKE
- – Eggs,
- – Margarine or butter,
- – Pasta,
- – Pilaf,
- – Pastry / rolls,
- – Cheese fritters,
- – Cheese pita varieties,
- – Cheese,
- – Yoghurt,
- – Biscuits,
- – Inside the white bread,
- – Milk,
- – Fruit juices,
- – Honey,
- – Grainless jam,
- – Flour and rice soup