Colonoscopy Health Article

What abnormal results mean

• Lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
• Polyps (which can be removed through the colonoscope during the exam)
• Tumor
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Diverticulosis (abnormal pouches on the lining of the intestines)(particularly in older people)

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

• CMV gastroenteritis or colitis
• Colon cancer screening
• Colorectal polyps
• Ischemic colitis
• Pseudomembranous colitis

What the risks are

• Bowel perforation (hole), requiring a repair operation (less than 2 out of 1,000 tests)
• Heavy or persistent bleeding from biopsy or polyp-removal sites (1 out of 1,000 tests)
• Adverse reaction to sedative medication, causing breathing problems or low blood pressure (4 out of 10,000 tests)
• Infection requiring antibiotic therapy (very rare)
• Nausea, vomiting, bloating, or rectal irritation caused by medicines, taken by mouth, that cleanse the bowel

Special considerations

You must sign an informed consent form. Several hours rest is recommended after the test. To replace fluids lost because of laxatives and fasting, drink plenty of liquids after the test.