What is a colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that allows your doctor to visually examine the inside of the colon for closer inspection of irregularities. This is accomplished by inserting a flexible camera into the anus and advancing the camera through the colon. The images from the camera are viewed on a display monitor.

Why is a colonoscopy performed?

Colonoscopies are performed to investigate irregularities found on an X-ray or CT scan, abdominal pain, diarrhea or blood in the stool. They may also be performed regularly for people at risk for polyps or colon cancer.

How can I prepare for the procedure?

The colon must be completely clean to achieve accurate results. Patients will usually be given a special cleansing solution to drink before the exam, or may be asked to consume only a clear liquid diet with laxatives or enemas. Most medications can still be taken, although some such as aspirin or blood thinners may require special instructions. Your doctor will instruct you on how to prepare.

What can I expect during a colonoscopy?

Before the procedure, an IV is inserted with medication to make the patient relaxed and sleepy. The heart, blood pressure and oxygenation of the blood are monitored throughout the procedure. During the colonoscopy, the patient lies on their left side or back as the colonoscope is slowly inserted. It reaches to the beginning of the colon and examines the lining of the area as it passes in and out. The procedure takes about 15-60 minutes. A biopsy may be taken during the procedure if an area needs to be examined further.

What happens after a colonoscopy?

After the procedure, patients will be kept under observation for about an hour or two, until the medication wears off. Reflexes and judgment may be impaired for the rest of the day. Some cramping or bloating may be experienced, but should be relieved quickly. Eating and other normal activities can resume immediately.

What are the risks or complications of the procedure?

Complications of a colonoscopy are rare and minor. The procedure is very safe when performed by a trained and experienced professional. If they do occur, complications can include bleeding from the site of the biopsy, perforation of the bowel wall or reactions to the IV medication.

What do abnormal results mean?

Abnormal results of a colonoscopy can be a result of:

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Diverticulosis
• Lower gastrointestinal bleeding
• Polyps
• Tumor

Further diagnostic testing such as X-rays and CT scans may be done to follow up on these results.

A colon resection is a surgical procedure to remove either part of or the entire colon (large intestine). A colon resection may be performed to treat the following colon conditions:

• Colon cancer
• Diverticulitis
• Large bowel obstruction
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Intestinal polyps

While the patient is under general anesthesia, an incision is made in the abdomen and the diseased part of the colon is located. The diseased part of the colon will be removed, and the healthy colon sewn back together. In more extensive operations, a colostomy may be performed in which a surgical opening is made through the abdomen to provide a path for elimination. A colostomy may be created as a temporary measure to allow more time for the colon to heal.

Laparoscopic colon resection requires three to four small incisions instead of one large one. Typically, most partial colon resections can be handled with this technique. This technique requires expertise in advanced laparoscopic surgery, which DuPage Surgical Consultants offer. As with other minimally invasive surgeries, laparoscopic colon resection results in a faster recovery, less post-operative pain, and smaller scars.

If you have hemorrhoids, you are not alone. Far from it! More than half of adults in America suffer from hemorrhoids. But few people with hemorrhoids ask their doctors for help. This might be because they are embarrassed, because they think the only treatment is painful surgery, or because they want to try home remedies before seeking medical advice. However, it is very important to tell your doctor if you think you may have hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids detected early can usually be resolved with non-surgical in-office treatment.

Not only can your doctor help you find relief from discomfort, more important, he or she will also determine whether your symptoms are caused by hemorrhoids or by a number of other, potentially serious problems that cause the same or similar symptoms. These include anal fissures and fistulae, polyps, skin tags, pruritis, Crohn's disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or cancer.

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anal canal. These veins normally provide cushioning during bowel movements and may swell after repeated lifting, straining, constipation, passing hard stools, diarrhea, or pregnancy. Hemorrhoids aren't life-threatening but they can be painful, and if swelling persists the veins may become permanently stretched ("prolapsed").

Are there different kinds of hemorrhoids?

There are two kinds of hemorrhoids: internal and external. The dentate line along the circular anus muscle divides the interior nerve canal, which has no nerve endings, from the anal opening and exterior areas, which do have nerve endings. Hemorrhoids that form in the anal canal are thus called internal hemorrhoids, while those outside the anal opening are called external hemorrhoids. External hemorrhoids are typically more uncomfortable at first because there are nerves present in the area where they form. However, internal hemorrhoids often swell beyond the dentate line, causing pain and other problems.

What are the symptoms?

Hemorrhoid symptoms vary in type and severity depending on such factors as a person's age, anatomy and heredity and duration of the problem. The most common symptoms are bleeding, itching, burning, discomfort during bowel movements, and the feeling of fullness or of a mass in or on the anus.

How are hemorrhoids treated?

Hemorrhoids should only be treated if they are painful or cause complications. To choose an appropriate treatment, the cause or causes need to be determined. Making changes to diet and fluid intake, toilet habits and exercise can relieve symptoms and prevent recurrence of the problem. Relief can also be found by treating related problems that irritate the hemorrhoid and affected areas (such as diarrhea and constipation).

Beyond this, treatment depends on the type and severity of the hemorrhoid as well as how it has responded to any previous treatment. Hemorrhoids are divided into four grades or stages depending their history. Grade I and II hemorrhoids are usually treated non-surgically, while Grades III and IV are more likely to require surgical correction.

Treatments include:

• Rubber Band Ligation (RBL) – An elastic band is wrapped around the hemorrhoid, cutting off blood supply and causing the tissue to die and drop off. External hemorrhoids and early-stage internal hemorrhoids can be treated with RBL.
• Infrared Photocoagulation (IPC) or Electrocoagulation – The hemorrhoid is exposed to a warm, painless infrared light or electrical current over a series of treatment sessions.
• Injection Sclerotherapy – A sclerosing solution injected into the blood vessels causes the hemorrhoids to shrink.
• Surgical Hemorrhoidectomy – Surgery is usually reserved for very advanced cases with a large amount of protrusion. The hemorrhoid is removed with a scalpel, cautery device or laser (which causes less pain and shortens recovery time). Local or general anesthesia may be used and hospitalization is usually required, with recovery taking up to two weeks or a month.
• Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy – This recently introduced procedure involves the insertion of a circular stapler into the rectum that pushes internal and external hemorrhoids and surrounding tissue up into the anal canal and staples them in place, cutting off blood supply.