A colonoscopy is a procedure performed to examine the lining of the colon (i.e. large bowel). Dr O’Brien performs colonoscopies locally in Bowral at Southern Highlands Private Hospital.
Purpose
Colonoscopies are performed for a range of reasons including evaluation of certain forms of anaemia, rectal bleeding, change in bowel habit, chronic diarrhoea, evaluation following a positive faecal occult blood test (‘FOBT’ bowel cancer screening test) and for those with a personal history of colonic polyps and family history of bowel cancer.
Preparation
A colonoscopy requires significant preparation to ensure the bowel is fully emptied of faeces. This means that your doctor can perform a complete examination of the bowel wall.
Dr O’Brien will give you instructions about what to do to clean the bowel out before your colonoscopy, including what foods you can and cannot eat and if you need to stop taking any of your usual medicines before the test. You will also be given instructions on ‘bowel preparation’, which is a special solution that you drink that causes watery diarrhoea and ensures your large bowel is clean.
Procedure
On the day of your procedure you will present to the hospital for admission as a day procedure. You will be seen by the anaesthetist who will put a drip (i.e. cannula) in your arm. You will be wheeled into the operating theatre and your identification and paperwork will be checked; you will then be given a sedation anaesthetic which will make you feel sleepy.
During the procedure your doctor will put a thin flexible tube with a camera and light on the end into your back passage (i.e. anus) and up into the rectum and colon. Your doctor might perform a biopsy and/ or remove polyps, which both involve taking a small piece of tissue from the bowel wall and is painless. The tissue samples are then sent to the laboratory to look for things like cancer, and pre-cancerous change.
Colonoscopy is a low-risk procedure. Your doctor will talk to you about the risks and benefits of the procedure before your test.
To make an appointment with Dr O’Brien, call the Highlands Specialist Hub on (02) 4811 1500
