How Long Does A Colonoscopy Take & Why Is It Done?

In order to properly diagnose a medical condition, we need to undergo specific diagnostic tests. Sometimes, your health care provider might ask you to get a colonoscopy done. During such instances, you might want to know how long does a colonoscopy take & why it is done.

Now, as the name indicates, colonoscopy is actually associated with the colon or large intestine. The colonoscopy is carried out for executing a number of tasks, and here we will be providing a detailed overview regarding the same.

It should be noted that the process associated with colonoscopy is a bit complicated, and it might make the patients anxious to some extent. They might be worried regarding the process, as well as the associated timing.

So, going through the essential details of the test is indeed very important, as it will help you to get rid of some anxiety and tension.

Colonoscopy

Before seeing how long does a colonoscopy take & why it is done, let's take a look at the procedure in detail.

• It can be considered as a medical procedure which is used to check the interior portion of the whole colon or large intestine.
• During this process, the health care providers will use a long tube which is known as a colonoscope. The colonoscope is flexible, and it has a small camera and light at its end.
• The colonoscope is inserted through the rectum, and is slowly and gently pushed into the colon of the patient.
• As we all know, the colon can be divided into Ascending colon, Transverse colon, Descending colon, Sigmoid colon. The colonoscopy can reach all these sections
• The colonoscope serves a number of purposes. It can be used for removing any liquid stool, cleaning the lining of the colon, working inside the colon with surgical tools, removing polyps, etc.

How long does a colonoscopy take to complete?

• As we all know, the process of colonoscopy might make the patients extremely worried, and they might naturally question how long the procedure will last. The process of colonoscopy will generally take about 30–60 minutes to complete.
• However, this is the time taken for the actual process, and it doesn't include the preparation, and recovery times. Thus, if we take into consideration the time spent during preparation and recovery, then colonoscopy will take much longer to complete.
• According to the patients and health care providers, the total time from the arrival of the patient at the hospital to departure might lie between 2-3 hours.
• So, if your healthcare provider has asked you to get this procedure done, then you should try to take the day off. This will enable you to take some rest after reaching home.

Why is colonoscopy done?

If you are curious to know how long does a colonoscopy take, then you might also want to find out why this procedure is done. Here, we will be listing some of the instances during which your health care provider might ask you to get a colonoscopy done.

1. Diagnostic and Treatment Purposes

Colonoscopy helps in determining the cause of bleeding in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, or unexplained, chronic diarrhea. Your doctor might also prescribe a colonoscopy test to diagnose and treat the below mentioned conditions.

• Diverticula along the colon wall
• Narrowed areas of the colon
• Ulcerations
• Tumors
• Inflammation
• Colon polyps
• Objects that might be in the colon

2. Cancer Screening

• We all know how dangerous rectal and colon cancers can be. This procedure can be carried out for the purpose of detecting these cancers.
• Cancer screening is very important, and in this case, the health care provider will look for cancer in individuals who do not showcase any of the associated symptoms.
• This test can also be employed for checking the colon during and after the cancer treatment to determine how the treatment is working.

3. Results of other tests

• Colonoscopy is often prescribed when the other diagnostic tests such as stool DNA tests, Barium enema, Sigmoidoscopy, tests for blood in the stool are unable to confirm a particular health issue.
• During such instances, additional testing will help in arriving at a diagnosis by avoiding all sorts of confusions.

How to prepare for colonoscopy?

Now that we know how long does a colonoscopy take & why it is done, let's take a look at the preparation process.

1. One week before colonoscopy

• If you are scheduled to undergo a colonoscopy test, then your health care provider will ask you to follow a specific diet during the week leading up to the test.
• You will also be asked to stop taking medications that can increase the risk of bleeding during the procedure.

2. Two days before colonoscopy

• During this time, you must make sure that you are drinking plenty of water to remain fully hydrated. This will help you to undergo the bowel prep without getting dehydrated.
• The health care provider might also ask you to avoid consuming red or orange coloured foods as they can make the colon look like it is bleeding.

3. 24 hours before colonoscopy

• In the 24 hours leading to the process of colonoscopy, you must try to consume only clear liquids.
• The doctor will also ask you to take an oral solution which will help in cleaning out the colon. As a result, the person might experience frequent bowel movements until the colon is completely clean.

So, we have seen how long does a colonoscopy take & why it is done. Along with that, we have also discussed how to prepare for this test. The colon preparation process needs to be very effective in order to get accurate results. If the preparation is carried out correctly, then the doctor will be able to move the colonoscope far enough into the colon to see the portion where the small and large intestines  join together. This process will be carried out under anesthesia, and you will not feel any discomfort. However, after the process, you might feel a bit sleepy because of the sedatives that were given. So, make sure someone is accompanying you while you go to get the procedure done.