There are several methods for examining the intestine today, but the most reliable method for detecting colon cancer is colonoscopy.. Palpation of the abdomen, laboratory tests, radiation diagnostic methods (X-ray, ultrasound, tomography) also help the doctor in making a diagnosis.. However, only a colonoscopy of the intestine allows you to look inside and directly examine the condition of the intestinal wall without surgical intervention..

Indications for colonoscopy of the intestine Doctors recommend doing a colonoscopy to clarify the diagnosis for patients with the following symptoms:.

black chair;

blood in stool;

Iron-deficiency anemia;

persistent diarrhea;

severe unexplained weight loss;

ulcerative colitis;

pathology revealed by X-ray examination of the colon;

colon polyps;

chronic abdominal pain.

Colonoscopy should be done if the patient has a family history of colon cancer.

In general, an indication for colonoscopy of the intestine is the suspicion of any of the possible diseases of the colon.. In some cases, for diagnosis, irrigoscopy is first prescribed - an x-ray examination of the colon, however, if a tumor is suspected, colonoscopy is most often recommended, since its resolution is much higher.

Contraindications acute infectious diseases;

peritonitis;

advanced pulmonary or heart failure;

severe forms of ischemic and ulcerative colitis.

Preparing for a colonoscopy In order for the results of the study to be as accurate as possible, there should be no liquid and feces in the lumen of the colon. For this, special preparation is carried out for colonoscopy..

In a few days, the doctor will determine the exact amount, the patient switches to a diet that excludes slag products from the diet: legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables, cabbage, black bread, some cereals.

Also, an obligatory stage of preparation for colonoscopy is bowel cleansing, which is possible in two ways: medication or mechanical (t. with enemas). In the first case, the doctor, as a rule, prescribes a special drug Fortrans, which is started the day before the study.. In the second case, 2-3 cleansing enemas are given in the evening on the day preceding the procedure, and 2-3 in the morning immediately before the diagnosis..

When choosing a specific method of preparing for a colonoscopy, you should definitely consult with your doctor..

Colonoscopy with or without anesthesia? Usually, colonoscopy is performed without anesthesia; patients with severe pain in the area are given local anesthesia (xylocaine gel, dicaine ointment).

Many patients, being afraid to do this procedure, are interested in whether a colonoscopy is possible under anesthesia.. Doctors say that the vast majority of this examination does not cause severe pain.. Moreover, in a number of conditions, anesthesia during colonoscopy of the intestine simply cannot be done, including severe heart failure, severe stenosis of the aortic or mitral valve, exacerbation of bronchopulmonary diseases, acute psychiatric and neurological diseases..

But there are situations when colonoscopy under anesthesia is preferable, and this also has its own indications, for example, massive adhesive processes in the abdominal cavity, severe destructive processes in the small intestine, children under 10 years old.

Therefore, colonoscopy under local anesthesia is used extremely rarely, if there is a need for anesthesia, then sedation is preferred - a method of anesthesia with special drugs, with the help of which a person is immersed in a state of superficial drug sleep.

Technique of the procedure Colonoscopy, performed by an experienced doctor, lasts approximately 30 minutes. Before the procedure, the patient is given a relaxing drug.. The patient lies down on the couch on his left side, pulling his knees to his chest. A colonoscope is used - a long flexible instrument, about 1 cm in diameter. This device is inserted through the anus and, with a moderate supply of air that straightens the intestines, is gradually advanced forward.. To facilitate the advancement of the apparatus, the patient may be asked to change position - roll over on his back.

At the moment of overcoming the bends of the intestine, a person may feel discomfort, slight spasms and a short-term increase in pain..

If during a colonoscopy, the doctor notices any pathologies, he makes a biopsy - removes small tissue samples for further analysis, which will help determine the nature of the formation.. In this case, the research time is slightly increased.

Complications after colonoscopyComplications after colonoscopy of the intestine are practically not observed. In rare cases, it happens:.

bleeding may occur after polyp removal or biopsy, but is usually minimal and stops very quickly;

adverse reaction to a sedative drug;

rupture in the examined tissues is extremely rare, the quality of the examination depends on the professionalism of the medical staff.

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