PREPARATION FOR COLONOSCOPY

PREPARATION STEPS BEFORE COLONOSCOPY:

Day before screening:

Avoid eating meat, vegetables and fruits with seeds (especially chia seeds, dragon fruit), and have a light afternoon snack.

After 5pm, do not eat or drink colored drinks, but you can still drink clear water (filtered water, coconut water, sugar water).

Early morning of endoscopy day:

Fast, drink only 2 packets of Fortrans laxative mixed with 2 liters of cold water in 2 hours, drink slowly. With the above preparation, you will defecate many times with clear water until your bowels are completely clean. You can drink more colorless drinks such as sugar water, coconut water but do not drink milk and fast completely.

Note : The quality of the stool plays a very important role, clean stool will help the endoscopy results to be accurate, not missing any lesions. Therefore, you:

- Must drink all the mixed medicine within 2 hours to clean the colon.

-While taking laxatives , you should walk around to stimulate bowel movements, and should not lie down.

-The stool must be cleaned thoroughly until the water is clear to meet the requirements.

WHY COLONOSCOPY?

The gastrointestinal tract is a very difficult organ to diagnose. Modern methods such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), although very expensive, are of little value in diagnosing gastrointestinal diseases. Barium enema X-rays can be used in some cases but are still not as accurate as endoscopy.

Through the endoscope, the doctor can detect very small lesions only a few millimeters, which can be biopsied to look for cancer. In addition, colonoscopy can be used to remove polyps.

WHO SHOULD HAVE A COLONOSCOPY?

Colorectal cancer often has warning symptoms such as: changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation of unknown cause), bloody mucus in stool, abdominal pain along the colon, loss of appetite, weight loss, anemia. However, most patients have these symptoms when the disease is late, progressing to a severe stage. Thus, to detect colorectal cancer early, the most effective way is to screen for this disease when there are no signs.

So who needs screening?

-People over 40 years old even without symptoms.

-People with a history of adenomatous polyps (polyps removed), chronic colitis, history of colon cancer surgery .

-People with a family history such as father, mother, brother, sister,... having adenomatous polyps, multiple polyps syndrome or colon cancer,... need to have a colonoscopy screening 10 years earlier than the age of their relatives when they had colon cancer (or starting at age 30) even if these people have absolutely no symptoms, colonoscopy at least once every 3-5 years and closer monitoring.

Therapeutic endoscopy is indicated when the following problems require intervention:

- Endoscopic removal of colon polyps (polyps are caused by proliferation of intestinal mucosal cells that form tumors, are usually benign and have no symptoms but have a high risk of turning into cancer. Polyps are removed to prevent the risk of cancer).

-Stop bleeding from injuries such as vascular dysplasia, bleeding after polypectomy...

-Remove foreign objects from the lower digestive tract.

-Even when the diagnosis is clear ( inflammation , ulcer or tumor...), the patient may still be prescribed a colonoscopy to take a biopsy sample to determine cancer.

IS COLONOSCOPY DANGEROUS?

    Colonoscopy is a fairly safe procedure and complications are rare.

Because the colon is long and the endoscope has to pass through many bends or twists, the doctor must pump air into the intestine to clearly see the lesion, so the procedure can cause the patient to feel pain and bloating after the endoscopy. This feeling will go away quickly after the patient passes gas a few times.

Intestinal perforation is rare and usually only occurs when the patient has a severe inflammatory disease that causes the intestinal wall to thin.

HOW IS COLONOSCOPY PERFORMED?

Endoscopy is performed in the endoscopy room with the doctor and endoscopist. Before the endoscopy, the patient will be examined in the anus to assess for any lower lesions. Local anesthetic is used to reduce discomfort when inserting the endoscope as well as to provide lubrication.

Initially, the patient is placed in the left lateral decubitus position. The scope is inserted through the anus and gradually advanced through the bowel. Occasionally, the patient may experience discomfort, bloating, or pain as the scope stretches the bowel. Notify the nurse or doctor so that adjustments can be made. Occasionally, the patient may be asked to change position or the nurse may apply gentle pressure to the patient’s abdomen. These measures are intended to make the scope easier and less painful to pass.

PAINLESS COLONOSCOPY:

There is now a new technique that makes endoscopy easier, which is painless gastrointestinal endoscopy, using sedation to help patients undergo a gentle, soothing and comfortable endoscopy during the endoscopy. You will sleep throughout the endoscopy. When a biopsy is needed, the doctor will perform it quickly and the patient will not feel any pain.

Painless colonoscopy

WHAT SHOULD I PAY ATTENTION TO AFTER COLONOSCOPY?

Patients may rest for a short time before leaving. If the colonoscopy is painless (pre-anesthesia), a family member should accompany the patient because the patient cannot drive or walk for at least 1 hour after the colonoscopy.

After colonoscopy, patients can return to normal eating and drinking unless the doctor has given any other special instructions.

Patients may note some common problems after colonoscopy:

+ Feeling little abdominal pain or feeling of urgency to push.

+ Stomach feels slightly bloated.

→ This feeling is normal and disappears quickly after a few sniffs.

If abdominal pain increases, fatigue, bloody stools → call the doctor immediately for treatment and advice on hospitalization.

FOLLOW-UP INSTRUCTIONS AFTER POLYP REMOVAL:

You should: Eat liquid foods for the first 2-3 days and avoid heavy work and alcohol for 2 weeks. Take medication as prescribed by your doctor.

If you have the following symptoms: abdominal pain, increased bloating causing discomfort or bloody stools, high fever, anxiety, fatigue, etc., you need to notify your doctor and go to the hospital immediately.

Please contact phone number:

During business hours: 1900 599 941 - 0938 829 831

After hours: German nurse 0368 120 947

GET PATHOLOGY RESULTS AND MEET A CONSULTING DOCTOR:

-If a biopsy or complete polypectomy is performed, the Pathology Results (GPB) will be returned after about 5 days. You will receive a “GPB Results Appointment Form”

-If you need to receive urgent results (same day or next day), you will have to pay an additional fee for the "Urgent Results" service.

-When the GPB results are available, the endoscopy room technician will call to notify and invite you to come receive the results.

-When receiving the GPB results, please meet with your treating doctor again for advice, dietary instructions, treatment prescription and a plan for future periodic endoscopy check-ups.

CONTACT PHONE: 0368.120.947 - 1900 599 941 - 0938 829 831.

Monday to Saturday: morning 7am to 11:30am, afternoon 1pm to 4:30pm.

Sunday morning: 7am-11:30am.

Dai Phuoc General Clinic, the only facility at 829, 3/2 Street, Ward 7, District 11, HCMC