Database of diseases - Cancer diseases

HOW DOES THE COLONOSCOPIC STUDY CURRENT?


Usually, the study is preceded by a 1-2-day hospitalization

It is best to take two or three days of leave for colonoscopy. Especially that it is necessary to empty the intestine from all food contents already before 1-2 days before the examination. For this purpose, a strong laxative and a 1-2 day "fasting" combined with abundant hydration of the body are used. It is best to use well mineralized spa water for hydration. It is forbidden to use milk and its products or juices for this purpose, because these dense liquid suspensions "silt" the visibility in the intestine and inserted there during the examination of the microcamera of the endoscope blindly! In this case, the test must be repeated!


At the beginning of the enema

A few minutes before the colonoscopic examination - the patient receives an enema from a special fluid as thoroughly cleansing the large intestine from the remains of food suspensions. After emptying the enema (which lasts several minutes) the doctor can proceed to the proper examination and endoscope help. It is recommended to use the test under anesthesia, because it is very painful for the majority of respondents.



The endoscope allows visual assessment of the intestine

Colonoscopy allows to assess the color of the colon mucosa, to identify its inflammation, to assess the colon movements of the large intestine, or peristalsis, etc. Most importantly, it allows the detection of pathological changes in the intestinal wall, such as: polyps (adenomas), etc. This method detected pre-cancerous changes - eg a visible adenoma polyp with a diameter of a few mm, which can be a pre-cancerous state - can be immediately removed using endoscopic microsurgery!

 
Specific examination

However, I did not use anesthesia. Arranged on the couch on the left side, I did not feel great discomfort while inserting the long flexible colonoscope into the lower part of my digestive tract. The physician manually controlling the motion of the colonoscope warns me that the intestine can hurt for a moment when the cable with the optical window overcomes the "sharp bend" in the so-called essence. At this point, I actually feel a temporary "burning" in the intestines - but I immediately forget about the pain, because in front of my eyes I see a colorful picture of direct transmission from the inside of my intestine.


Self-observation of the examination by the patient

On the screen of a large monitor set in front of me, (I watch the image at the same time as the doctor examining me), the interior of the pale pink, ribbed, intestinal tract moves slowly. The eye of the visor travels slowly through the so-called the descending part of the colon. In front of my eyes are moving the next sections of the intestine. Polipów is not there yet.
 

Painful "turns"

In the so-called the spinal bend is another sharp bend. Another temporary pain. The walls of the intestine - after being irritated by the colonoscope - shrink and closely adhere to each other. The image in the monitor suddenly disappears! - It's an involuntary reflex, you have to wait for a moment, until the intestine "gets used to" the apparatus and will recuperate to its full width. When this happens - the picture returns and the "eye" of the colonoscope goes to the so-called the transverse portion of the colon.


We have traveled nearly ¾ the length of the intestines and polyps, fortunately there is still no.

Here we suddenly lost visibility! Optical penetration at some point hinders unknown origin "black goo" - adhering to the walls of the intestine. This fecal sediment probably remained from the drinking water instead of the mineral water of unclarified fruit juice (And it seemed to me that there is "nothing" in this juice.) - Do not drink fruit juices before the test! - I listened to the voice of a dissatisfied doctor.I am explaining that the instructions received for the preparation of the study allowed me to drink clear juices, and only those who have visible particles, for example tomato, were forbidden. (In my opinion, the manual should not allow any fruit juices, only mineral or ordinary water (as well as very diluted green tea or camomile.)


The colonoscope has the function of "suction" of excess fluids.

Together with them, he sucks the sludge from the fruit juice. Despite this feature, the intestinal walls are not as visible as before. At moments, there are dark spots that make it difficult to see the walls. However, it is possible to continue the study. Most polyps meet in the first and middle parts of the colon - inform the doctor. In my place there were only two small polyps in this location.


A place where the removal of a polyp is difficult - a contra-angle handpiece with thin walls

We finally reach the end of the intestine - into the cecum. Here on the screen I suddenly notice the round convexity of a large polyp. It has a diameter of 1 cm, Now we are slowly moving back. On the way back, we notice one more small polyp - 2 mm in diameter.


- "Big" polyp is in an unusual location - comments the doctor.

Contra-angle handpiece is difficult to access and has thin walls. To remove a large polyp you need to be specially prepared, clean the intestine of turbid juice. A second visit awaits me - already for micro-surgery.


- We are starting to remove small polyps! - surprises me with a quick decision.

The colonoscope allows not only an accurate view of the coarse and finding polyps in the large intestine, but also endoscopic removal. In the colonoscope wire there are tiny surgical tools to remove the polyp. The diagnostic doctor can immediately become a surgeon when the polyp is found and proceed to surgery. The course of this operation can also be observed by the patient on the screen. On the monitor screen, I see the operation head of the colonoscope approaching and cutting out the tiny polyp from the intestinal wall. To my surprise, I do not feel pain. On the screen appears only in the place of cutting a small cloud of blood, which for a moment obscures the visibility.

Removal of the colonoscope is almost imperceptible.

This is the end of the operation - the doctor declares. - To remove a large polyp, we need to have better visibility. The treatment requires a lot of precision, because the polyp is located in an unusual place where the intestinal wall is relatively thin. It is also good to check blood coagulation beforehand, which is important when removing a large polyp.



Record for a complementary colonoscopic operation

The next day I register by phone for a medical consultation regarding the colonoscopic excision of the last polyp. Now, my anxiety before surgery is minimal, because I know that this is a very light treatment for me. Today I also know that for others it can be a very painful procedure!

   
noted Edward Ozga Michalski
 

10 years of safety after surgery?

I learn from the doctor that after removing the polyp I will have a sense of oncological safety for about 10 years. This is how much time grows in the large 1 cm polyp that has been found in my colon. And as we know, polyps of this size may become malignant and initiate a malignant colon cancer.