Dr Arvind Kumar

Sigmoidoscopy

 

What is Flexible Sigmoidoscopy? 

Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a common outpatient procedure in which the inside of the lower part of the large intestine (also called the sigmoid colon) is examined with a lighted scope .

 

Getting ready for your procedure:

Tell your doctor about any medicines you are on, since some drugs can interfere with the examination. Those include aspirin products, arthritis drugs, blood thinners, insulin, and iron.

Your rectum and lower bowels must be empty for the exam to be accurate and complete but usually there are no diet or fluid restrictions before this procedure.

To prepare the bowel for the procedure, the doctor will usually give you one or more enemas a few minutes before the procedure. Try to hold the enema for at least five minutes before releasing it. On occasion, you may have to drink an oral laxative as well.

In most cases, sedatives and/or anesthesia are not necessary. Therefore, you can drive yourself home after the procedure.

During the procedure Your doctor will explain the procedure in detail, including possible complications and side effects. Your doctor also will answer any questions you may have.

You will be asked to wear a hospital gown, and you will lie on your left side with your knees drawn up.

 

A sigmoidoscopy is simple: 

Then the scope is inserted further and your doctor will examine the lining of your colon on a screen, much like a TV. The doctor steers the scope using handheld controls.

You may feel mild cramping during the procedure. You can reduce cramping by taking several slow, deep breaths. The procedure usually takes anywhere from 5-15 minutes.

If your doctor thinks an area of the bowel needs to be evaluated in greater detail, an instrument is passed through the scope to obtain a painless biopsy, or tissue sample. This tissue is then examined in a laboratory, and results are usually available within a week to 10 days.

 

After The Procedure:

The doctor will explain the results to you

You might experience some discomfort or cramps after the procedure for a short while You should be able to go to your work after few hours.