Background:
Your doctor has referred you for a flexible sigmoidoscopy. A
flexible sigmoidoscopy is an extremely safe method for evaluating the rectum
and the lower part of the large bowel for the presence of growths or other
problems, especially cancer. Colon cancer is extremely common in Americans. The
American Cancer society recommends flexible sigmoidoscopy as a method of
screening for colon cancer every 3-5 years in individuals over the age of
45. The flexible sigmoidoscope is a flexible tubular instrument which
allows the physician to visualize the lining of the colon to take specimens (biopsy),
if necessary.
How the Examination is
Performed:
On the day of the procedure, please arrive at the clinic
approximately 45 minutes prior to your scheduled time. You will be
brought into the examining room and a nurse will explain the procedure to
you. Your consent will be obtained. You will be asked to change
into a gown. The physician will speak with you and examine you briefly.
You will be placed in a comfortable position on your left
side, and the physician will then insert the sigmoidoscope into your rectum,
using small amounts of air to allow optimal visualization of the lining of
the bowel. If abnormalities such as polyps are seen, biopsies will
be taken using a special pair of forceps (tweezers). These samples
will be sent to the pathology laboratory for evaluation. Biopsies are
painless but they may cause a small amount of blood to be seen in the stool
over the next few days. If you have any difficulty with abnormal bleeding
in the past, please let the physician know. You may experience some
abdominal cramping or the sensation of having to move your bowels during
the procedure and this is entirely normal. If you experience a great
deal of discomfort during the procedure, please inform the physician. Typically,
a flexible sigmoidoscopy takes 15-20 minutes to complete. At the end
of the procedure, the results will be explained to you and a report will
be sent to your physician.
Risks of Flexible Sigmoidoscopy:
Flexible sigmoidoscopy is extremely safe and has been performed
for may years. There is a very small risk of perforating the bowel (poking
a hole in the intestine), although this occurs less than 1 for every
10,000 sigmoidoscopies performed. Other risks include bleeding if a
biopsy is performed and rarely infection. If you have any problems
after your sigmoidoscopy, please notify the physician who performed this
examination by calling (973) 972-6077.
Instructions for Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
can be found here in PDF format.
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