Colonoscopy Prep Guide

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Colonoscopy Prep Site Map
...Understanding Colonoscopy?
..Colonoscopy Risks
..Colonoscopy Prep
..Colonoscopy Preparation

Are There Any Risks Involved With A Colonoscopy?

While any type of invasive procedure carries with it some small degree of risk, the fact is that a colonoscopy is about as close to risk free as one can come to and still be invasive. There is a very small chance that the tube may create a complication by tearing a small hole in the lining of the colon. If this happens, the patient will need to be rushed into major surgery immediately to take care of the problem. The nice thing is that the team conducting the colonoscopy will know instantly if there is a tear and can respond speedily.

Another potential risk of having a colonoscopy is a problem with cauterizing after the polyp or other sample has been extracted. If this is not done properly, bleeding may begin to occur in the days following the procedure. This will be accompanied with abdominal pain, so the patient would want to let his or her doctor know if this happens.

Because one is put under with anesthesia before the colonoscopy begins, there is always the possibility of complications arising due to a reaction to the anesthesia. These may include a drop in blood pressure or a saturation of oxygen in the blood stream. These conditions can of course lead to a stroke or even a heart attack. Anyone who has experienced a problem with anesthesia in the past would be well advised to advice the doctor of this fact before the colonoscopy takes place.