Time required for a colonoscopy

synonym

Colonoscopy

introduction

The duration of a colonoscopy, like any other examination, is subject to strong individual fluctuations depending on the type and objective of the procedure. A colonoscopy duration that deviates from standard values ​​or rather empirical values ​​does not mean a bad result, but can be the result of an increased effort in the examination or simply a technical problem.

An extended stay in the examination area should also not cause uncertainty, as processes in the hospital or everyday practice are usually responsible for this. However, if one or more abnormalities are found during the colonoscopy, these must be examined more closely, which leads to a time delay. Due to these variable circumstances, it is not possible to give an exact time for the duration of a colonoscopy, only rough guidelines based on the previous assessment of the scope of the examination.

Duration of a routine colonoscopy

Preparing for a colonoscopy begins several days before the actual examination. This preparatory phase is used to completely clean the colon so that the colon mucosa can be optimally assessed during the colonoscopy. For this, depending on the scheme, a salty liquid is drunk one to two days before the examination, the one severe bowel movement causes. Either the colon cleansing agent is divided into 4 liters of liquid or it is reduced to a quarter of a liter and the remaining liquid is absorbed in the form of water or tea.

Multiple days before the examination should already Whole grain products and fruit containing seeds are avoided. Only light food may be consumed two days in advance. This includes Fish, rice and steamed vegetables.

At the Eve of the colonoscopy You have to do without a meal completely, so that the examination on the following day is complete sober state can be carried out. The goal is the Large intestine To have free of long-digestible food and to pre-clean it so that only a watery liquid is excreted from the intestine. If this is the case, the intestines are optimally positioned Colonoscopy prepared and the actual investigation can begin.

Shortly before the start, a calming agent is administered, whereby it only takes a few minutes for the treatment to take effect. The actual colonoscopy takes about twenty minutes on average. However, this time can vary if, for example Polyps or mucosal damage can be found. These will Depending on the type of change, completely removed or a sample is taken from the suspicious area. The more such changes are found during the colonoscopy, the longer the process takes, as each individual area has to be assessed and treated. This is followed by a monitoring phase, which is necessary because of the administration of the sedating drug that makes you dizzy.

If the colonoscopy is carried out in a practice and not as part of an inpatient stay, it is necessary to know that for Impaired driving for twenty-four hours consists. If sedating medication is not administered, no further time needs to be planned after the colonoscopy and everyday life can be resumed.

Including preparation phase, examination and recovery phase passes about a week, being the real Investigation only a fraction that time matters. In the case of a colonoscopy, “preparation is everything” in order to avoid another time-consuming preparation phase and examination.

Frequency of a colonoscopy

The Routine colonoscopy is performed from the age of fifty-five Recommended for every patient by the statutory health insurance. Private health insurance companies recommend a routine colonoscopy from the age of fifty.

Was at this initial examination no abnormality of the intestinal mucosa such as a polyp, which represents a precancerous stage, found the next scheduled colon cancer screening will not take place until ten years later. If, on the other hand, a change in the intestinal mucosa was found and removed during the initial examination, the colonoscopy will be performed again take place after five years - in the case of special risk factors, earlier in consultation with the attending physician.

Is there a hereditary conditional Propensity to polyp or malignant bowel disease before, colonoscopies are performed at a younger age and at shorter intervals. Here, close controls are sometimes started before the age of twenty.