Experienced with complex tertiary practice – good decision maker and colleague
Flexible ‘telescope’ used to fully assess the large bowel and the lowermost part of the small bowel
Duration
10-45 minutes depending on complexity of the procedure
Typically Indicated When Investigating The Following
Change in bowel habit, rectal bleeding,inflammatory bowel disease, family or personal history of bowel cancer or previous polyps.
Allows direct visual assessment of the bowel as well as obtaining tissue samples (‘biopsies’).
Also allows:
- Removal of most polyps and some very small (ie very early) bowel cancers.
- Stenting of large bowel strictures due to cancer.
Requires bowel preparation (ie strong laxatives by mouth) the day before the test.
Requires very limited food intake the day prior to the test.
Requires high water intake the day before the test (to allow bowel cleansing and prevent dehydration).
Usually performed under sedation or with entonox (‘gas and air’ as used during childbirth).
Results available immediately on completion of the test though biopsies may take a few days to be processed.
Risk
Very Low