Sigmoidoscopy Health Article

BOOKS

Bland, K. I., W. G. Cioffi, and M. G. Sarr. Practice of General Surgery. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2001.

Grace, P. A., A. Cuschieri, D. Rowley, N. Borley, and A. Darzi. Clinical Surgery, 2nd Edition. London: Blackwell Publishers, 2003.

Miller, B. E. Atlas of Sigmoidoscopy and Cytoscopy. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2001.

Schwartz, S. I., J. E. Fischer, F. C. Spencer, G. T. Shires, and J. M. Daly. Principles of Surgery, 7th Edition. New York: McGraw Hill, 1998.

Townsend, C., K. L. Mattox, R. D. Beauchamp, B. M. Evers, and D. C. Sabiston. Sabiston's Review of Surgery, 3rd Edition. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2001.

Wigton, R. S. Flexible Sigmoidoscopy and Other Gastrointestinal Procedures. St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book, 2000.

PERIODICALS

Mandel, J. S. "Sigmoidoscopy Screening Probably Works, But How Well Is Still Unknown." Journal of the National Cancer Institute 95, no.8 (2003): 571–573.

Nelson, D. E., J. Bolen, S. Marcus, H. E. Wells, and H. Meissner. "Cancer Screening Estimates for U.S. Metropolitan Areas." American Journal of Preventive Medicine 24, no.4 (2003): 301–309.

Newcomb, P. A., B. E. Storer, L. M. Morimoto, A. Templeton, and J. D. Potter. "Long-term Efficacy of Sigmoidoscopy in the Reduction of Colorectal Cancer Incidence." Journal of the National Cancer Institute 95, no.8 (2003): 622–625.

Walsh, J. M., and J. P. Terdiman. "Colorectal Cancer Screening: Clinical Applications." Journal of the American Medical Association 289, no.10 (2003): 1297–1302.

Walsh, J. M., and J. P. Terdiman. "Colorectal Cancer Screening: Scientific Review." Journal of the American Medical Association 289, no.10 (2003): 1288–1296.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Academy of Family Physicians. 11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway, Leawood, KS 66211-2672. (913) 906-6000. E-mail: <fp@aafp.org>. <http://www.aafp.org>.

American College of Surgeons. 633 North St. Clair Street, Chicago, IL 60611-32311. (312) 202-5000, Fax: (312) 202-5001. E-mail: <postmaster@facs.org>. <http://www.facs.org>.

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 1520 Kensington Road, Suite 202, Oak Brook, IL 60523. (630) 573-0600, Fax: (630) 573-0691. E-mail: <info@asgeoffice.org>. <http://www.asge.org>.

Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons. 2716 Ocean Park Blvd., Suite 3000, Santa Monica, CA 90405. (310) 314-2404, Fax: (310) 314-2585. E-Mail: <sagesweb@sages.org>. <http://www.sages.org>.

OTHER

American Academy of Family Physicians [cited May 5, 2003] <http://www.aafp.org/afp/990115ap/313.html>.

American Cancer Society. [cited May 5, 2003] <http://www.cancer.org/docroot/SPC/content/SPC_1_Colonoscopy_and_Sigmoidoscopy_FAQ.asp>.

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. [cited May 5, 2003] <http://www.asge.org/gui/patient/flex.asp>.

Colonoscope.org . [cited May 5, 2003] <http://www.colonscope.org/Hbw/your_colon.asp>.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. [cited May 5, 2003] <http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/diagtest/sigmo.htm>.

National Library of Medicine. [cited May 5, 2003] <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003885.htm>.

Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. [cited May 5, 2003] <http://www.sages.org/pi_flexible_sigmoidoscopy.html>.

L. Fleming Fallon, Jr, MD, DrPH

WHO PERFORMS THE PROCEDURE AND WHERE IS IT PERFORMED?

A colonoscopy procedure is usually performed by a gastroenterologist, a physician with specialized training in diseases of the colon. Alternatively, general surgeons or experienced family physicians perform sigmoidoscopic examinations. In the United States, the procedure is usually performed in an outpatient facility of a hospital or in a physician's professional office.

Persons with rectal bleeding may need a full colonoscopy in a hospital setting. Individuals whose blood does not clot well (possibly as a result of blood-thinning medications) may require the procedure to be performed in a hospital setting.

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE DOCTOR

• Is the supervising physician appropriately certified to conduct a sigmoidoscopy?
• How many sigmoidoscopy procedures has the doctor performed?
• What other steps will be taken as a result of my test findings?