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Risks of Colonoscopy

A colonosocopy is a medical exam that allows your doctor to see the inside of your colon. It is uses to screen for colon cancer, search for polyps, diagnose Crohn's disease and search for causes of abdominal pain or digestive problems. Your doctor will review the risks of a colonoscopy before you undergo the procedure.

  1. The Procedure

    • Before undergoing a colonoscopy, you need to prepare for several days by not eating solid foods and taking laxatives. You might also need to give yourself an enema. Just before the procedure, you will be given a sedative and a pain reliever. During the colonoscopy, you will lie on your side while the colonoscope, a very small camera attached to tube, is inserted into your anus and gently eased into your colon. During your colonoscopy, tissue samples might be taken and polyps could be removed. The risks involved in a colonoscopy include physical damage to your body and adverse reactions to medications.

    Physical Damage

    • There is a risk that you could experience physical injury as a result of your colonoscopy. This includes a tear in the tissue of the walls of your colon or your rectum. The damage can range from a small nick to a large hole. If a polyp is removed during the procedure, you might have heavy or uncontrolled bleeding from the removal site. You are also at risk for developing an infection during your recovery.

    Adverse Reaction

    • You will be given a variety of medication before and during your colonoscopy, including laxatives, sedative and pain relievers. There is a risk that you will experience an adverse reaction to one of them. The laxatives can cause nausea, bloating and vomiting. The sedative could depress your breathing rate or dangerously lower your blood pressure. There is a risk that you could have an allergic reaction to the pain reliever or to any of the other medications used.

    Treatments

    • The treatments for complications resulting from a colonoscopy can include surgery to repair damage. A surgeon can stitch up tears within the colon when they are caused by the colonoscope or by the removal of a polyp. Infections can be treated with antibiotics. If medication makes you ill, medical professionals can offer you a different medication that you will tolerate better. Most of the side effects from the medications will fade over time.

    Increased Risk Factors

    • Some people are more at risk of experiencing complications during a colonoscopy. A person who is elderly is much more likely to experience issues with tears to the colon and uncontrolled bleeding. A person who experienced a heart attack in the recent past is at higher risk for experience cardiovascular issues as a result of the medication used to prepare for the procedure.

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