How long does a colonoscopy take, what is it, & how is it done?

Colonoscopy is a very intricate procedure and it is carried out to determine the problems associated with the colon and the rectum. Sometimes, you might wonder how long does a colonoscopy take, what it is, & how it is done. This examination and its procedure might often frighten a lot of people. But, if your doctor has prescribed a colonoscopy examination, then you should definitely get it done without any kind of hesitation. If the report obtained is positive, then it indicates that there could be any polyps or other abnormal tissue growth in the colon. Most of the time, these polyps are not cancerous and there is nothing to worry about. But, some of them can be precancerous. If polyps are present in your colon, then they are removed during the process of colonoscopy. Thereafter, these tissues are sent to the laboratory to examine them properly. The experts at the lab will determine if the polyp tissues are cancerous, precancerous or noncancerous in nature. If your colonoscopy report is negative, then it indicates that the doctor has not found any abnormalities in your colon. In such cases, the doctor will advise you regarding the correct time to conduct the next colonoscopy examination. Getting a colonoscopy every 10 years is recommended when you have an average risk of colon cancer, as well as when you have no such colon cancer risk factors.

How long does a colonoscopy take in normal cases?

• A procedure of colonoscopy takes around thirty to sixty minutes to get completed. The exact time will depend on a number of factors such as whether the doctor needs to remove polyps from your colon or take samples for biopsies.
• Even though the actual process of colonoscopy gets completed within an hour or so, it is highly advisable that the patients, as well as those accompanying them should plan to spend two to three hours in the hospital or the clinic where the examination is going to be conducted. This is because you need to consider the time needed for the preparation, as well as the recovery.
• Around thirty to sixty minutes before the initiation of the colonoscopy procedure, the patient will be asked to change to a hospital gown. Along with that, the nurse will also make sure that an IV gets started.
• Once the process gets completed, the patient will be advised to spend another thirty to sixty minutes in the hospital. This is very important because it will help the patients to recover from the sedation.

What do you mean by colonoscopy?

• We have seen how long does a colonoscopy take. Now, let's see what the colonoscopy examination actually is.
• This is an exam which is conducted to look for changes in your large intestine and rectum. These include changes such as irritated or swollen tissues, polyps, tumor, or cancer.
• This procedure will also enable the healthcare practitioner to determine the probable causes of issues such as rectal bleeding, chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, as well as other intestinal concerns.
• In this procedure a long, flexible tube which is known as a colonoscope is inserted inside your body through the opening called rectum. At the tip of the tube, a tiny video camera will be installed and it will enable the doctor or the examiner to view the interior surface of the entire colon.
• Whenever required, polyps or other similar types of abnormal tissues are removed with the assistance of the scope. The collected tissue will be then sent to the lab to determine if they are cancerous.
• In certain cases, a colonoscopy procedure might be necessary for the purpose of treatment. These include instances where you might have to place a stent inside your colon or remove an object that might be obstructing your colon.

How is colonoscopy done?

• If you are wondering how long does a colonoscopy take, then you might also want to know the procedure that is involved in this examination.
• So, first of all, the patient will be asked to wear the hospital gown. Once you have changed into the specified clothes, the nurse will begin the sedation procedure.
• In the majority of the cases, the sedative medication is combined with a pain killer. This combination is given directly through the patient's blood stream using the IV route. This will help to lessen the discomfort associated with the procedure.
• Then, the patient will be asked to lie down on their side on the examination table. During this procedure, the knees must be drawn towards the chest. Once the patient lays down in this position, the doctor or the examiner will slowly insert a colonoscope into the patient's rectum.
• The instrument used for this purpose is quite long and it will be able to reach the entire length of the colon. The instrument also consists of a light and a tube which will enable the doctor to pump air, water or carbon dioxide into the colon, whenever required. The air is pumped into the colon to inflate it. This will help in getting a better view of the interior surface of the colon.
• The colonoscope also contains a tiny video camera which helps in sending the images of the interior of the colon to an external monitor so that the doctor can study the inside of your colon.

Conclusion

Now that we know how long does a colonoscopy take, what it is, & how it is done, we should also know what happens after the exam. Once the examination is over, it might take about an hour or so for the sedative to become inactive. You will also feel bloated after the examination and will pass gas for a few hours. This is normal and will go away as you completely clear the excess air from your colon. If you are feeling any sort of discomfort, then you should try walking a bit. In some cases, a small quantity of blood might also pass along with the first bowel movement after examination.