In the modern world, there are a huge number of ailments that, if not treated in time, can lead to negative consequences. Therefore, when the first symptoms appear, immediately seek medical help from professionals. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract pose a great threat to human he alth and life. They are much more difficult to treat, especially if the patient has started the pathology and went to the hospital already in the later stages of its course.
To avoid many negative consequences and serious complications, it is very important to diagnose the disease in a timely manner. In modern medicine, there are quite a few laboratory research methods that are highly accurate and informative. One of these is colonoscopy of the intestine with sedation, reviews of which will be presented below. What is this procedure, what data does it allow doctors to collect, and what features does it have? On thethese and many other questions will be answered in detail in this article.
General information
Colonoscopy with sedation is one of the modern research methods aimed at studying the internal state of the intestinal walls using a special device equipped with a camera, which is inserted through the anus. All information is displayed in the form of a detailed picture on the display, thanks to which the doctor can draw up a detailed clinical picture of the patient's he alth status and diagnose many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of various origins in the early stages of development.
It is worth noting that this research method is used not only to make an accurate diagnosis, but also to take soft tissue samples for analysis, eliminate internal bleeding, treat intestinal obstruction and perform a surgical operation to remove polyps and neoplasms. Thus, the scope of colonoscopy with sedation (reviews about the procedure are mostly positive) is quite wide. This research method is used everywhere in case of suspicion of any diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Doing an examination under anesthesia has many strengths. The person is calm and completely relaxed. And some drugs used for anesthesia cause short-term amnesia, so that the patient will not remember any unpleasant moments.
Types of procedure
There are several methods for performing a colonoscopy.
- Virtual - information is collected using CT and MRI. Both methods of laboratory research are innovative and have high accuracy and information content. This option is the most preferred because it is completely painless and has almost no contraindications and side effects.
- Using an endoscope - a special device is inserted through the anus into the intestine, which is a tube two meters long, at one end of which a video camera is fixed that displays the image on the display.
In the latter case, the patient is sedated before a colonoscopy. This is a prerequisite, since the procedure gives a person severe discomfort and pain, so it is simply impossible to endure it without anesthesia.
Indications for prescription
This aspect should be given special attention. Elderly people who do not have a genetic predisposition to colon cancer are recommended to have a colonoscopy with sedation at least once every five years. If a person in the family had relatives who had problems with cancer, then it is advisable to undergo an examination every 12 months. This is necessary for the timely diagnosis of the disease and the initiation of treatment. In addition, among the indications for the appointment, the following he alth problems can also be distinguished:
- suspicion of internal bleeding in the large intestine;
- benign and malignant tumors;
- body temperature 37-37.5degree that lasts for a long period of time;
- abrupt and unjustified weight loss;
- chronic indigestion;
- anemia;
- chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, occurring in an acute form;
- ulcerative colitis.
If you decide to undergo an examination, then you need to consider that this procedure has some contraindications. Colonoscopy sedation is not recommended during pregnancy, with pulmonary and heart failure, peritonitis, ulcerative colitis, poor blood clotting, allergic reactions, and any pathologies of infectious etiology.
Preparation for examination
Colonoscopy under sedation, reviews of patients and doctors fully confirm this, it is highly accurate and informative. However, to reduce the likelihood of a false diagnosis, you must first prepare your body for the procedure. Approximately in 3-4 days, you need to eliminate the following foods from your diet:
- cow's milk;
- soda;
- black tea and coffee;
- spirits;
- pasta;
- any pastries;
- wheat groats;
- fruits and vegetables;
- legumes;
- nuts;
- fatty food;
- smoked meats;
- sausages;
- semi-finished products;
- products containing colorants, preservatives and flavor enhancers.
Best to stick withproper nutrition. It is recommended to include the following products in the menu:
- natural yoghurts;
- fermented milk products;
- boiled turkey meat;
- steamed sea fish;
- chicken broth.
If you decide to have a colonoscopy with sedation, then you need to approach this very seriously. The use of the products listed above can adversely affect the accuracy of the examination and make it difficult for doctors to make a correct diagnosis. The last meal should be no later than 12 hours before the expected visit to the doctor. During this time, the use of clean water without gas and green tea is allowed. 2 hours before the start of the procedure, it is forbidden even to drink, since the stomach must be empty.
The rest of the preparatory activities are discussed with the doctor on an individual basis. In most cases, patients are prescribed bowel cleansing through an enema or taking medications that have a laxative effect, such as Lavacol or Fortrans. The dosage is calculated by the doctor for each patient separately, taking into account body weight and a number of other factors.
How is the procedure performed?
Many people who have been scheduled for a colonoscopy with sedation are afraid to go to the hospital because they have no idea how it works. But there is nothing wrong with this method of laboratory research. Everything happens according to the following scheme:
- The patient takes recumbentposition on the left side on the couch, pressing the legs with the knees to the stomach.
- Specialist conducts complex anesthesia. It may involve general anesthesia, sedation, or lubrication of the anus with a special gel containing an anesthetic.
- As soon as the anesthesia begins to take effect, a probe is inserted into the anus.
- Depending on the specific purpose of the study, the duration of the procedure can be from 15 minutes to the complete completion of all necessary manipulations by the doctor.
- The colonoscope is brought out of the colon.
It is worth noting that during colonoscopy anesthesia, sedation or other methods of anesthesia are performed only in the presence of a qualified specialist. This is necessary not only in order to calculate the correct dosage, but also in order to minimize any risks that may pose a threat to the he alth of the patient.
A few words about anesthesia
Colonoscopy is a very unpleasant examination method, associated with some discomfort, and in some cases even with severe pain. Therefore, it is performed under anesthesia. There are the following variants:
- General anesthesia. A person is given an intravenous drug that puts him into a deep sleep. At the end of the drug, the patient gradually comes to his senses, not remembering anything and not experiencing discomfort.
- Local anesthesia. The device is lubricated with a special gel before insertion into the intestine. At the same time, the pain does not disappear anywhere, but the advancement of the probe becomes almostimperceptible.
- Colonoscopy with sedation. This is the most common form of pain relief. It is similar to drug sleep, but the person is conscious, feeling absolutely nothing.
Which type of anesthesia will be used during the examination, the specialist decides based on the he alth of the patient.
Advantages and disadvantages of sedation
General anesthesia is used very rarely, since the complete immersion of the patient in a state of sleep requires a long recovery of the body. As practice shows, in the vast majority of cases, sedation is prescribed for colonoscopy. This option is considered one of the most optimal. Among its main advantages are the following:
- lack of discomfort, pain, as well as feelings of anxiety and fear;
- possibility of non-surgical removal of tumors;
- eliminate bleeding in the colon;
- possibility of carrying out the procedure for patients of any age category;
- completely relaxes the patient and reduces the risk of damage to the intestinal mucosa;
- helps a person cope with fear of the procedure and stress.
Despite many advantages, sleep sedation colonoscopy also has a number of disadvantages. These include:
- probability of developing side effects from administered medications;
- liver and kidney toxicity;
- memory problems.
Modern drugs used for anesthesia during examinationGastrointestinal tract, have a unique chemical composition and are safe for the body. They almost do not cause side effects and serious consequences for the patient's he alth. One of the safest is intravenous sedation during colonoscopy. Such anesthesia begins to act quickly, and recovery from it does not take much time.
Restrictions
Colonoscopy under sedation (reviews about such a procedure are more positive than negative) is one of the most benign and harmless methods for studying the state of the gastrointestinal tract. However, this type of anesthesia may not be used in all cases. The main contraindications include:
- Children under 12;
- presence of adhesions in the intestines;
- nasal congestion;
- epilepsy;
- peritonitis;
- sensitivity;
- low pain threshold;
- individual drug intolerance;
- presence of allergic reactions;
- stenosis of the intestine or anus;
- failure to follow the prescribed diet;
- mental disorders;
- any severe disease of the heart, kidneys, respiratory organs and gastrointestinal tract;
- violation of the functioning of the mechanisms of hemostasis;
- acute infectious diseases;
- heart and kidney failure;
- pregnancy.
The presence of some contraindications is not a reason for refusing to perform a colonoscopy of the intestine under sedation. When choosing a method of anesthesia, the anesthesiologist takes into account the state of he alth and individualpatient characteristics.
Possible Complications
As mentioned earlier, a colonoscopy is not the most pleasant examination method. In addition to discomfort and pain, there is a risk of developing various complications. During the diagnosis, there is a high probability of mechanical injury to the walls and mucous membrane of the intestine, rupture of the spleen, and even respiratory arrest. But, as medical practice shows, this occurs only in isolated cases. There is also a chance that after the completion of the diagnosis, the person will have:
- flatulence;
- high body temperature;
- weakness all over the body;
- pain syndrome;
- difficulty defecation.
As for the negative impact of anesthesia on the human psyche and the functioning of the central nervous system, it does not exist. New generation drugs are safe and do not harm the body. Therefore, you can not be afraid of anything, but feel free to agree to any type of anesthesia.
What drugs are used for anesthesia?
Sedation during colonoscopy (you can read patient reviews at the end of the article) involves the patient taking special medications that have a sedative effect. As a rule, doctors prescribe the following drugs:
- "Propofol". It begins to act after a short period of time after entering the stomach, but the duration of the effect is relatively short-lived. Due to this, the subject quickly recovers from anesthesia, while maintainingmemories of all the doctor's manipulations. Among the main advantages can be identified high tolerance. The disadvantage is that it is expensive.
- Midazolam. Causes short-term memory loss. After the procedure is completed, the patient will remember absolutely nothing about it. Many doctors most often prescribe this particular drug, since it has an anticonvulsant effect. The main disadvantage is that the drug has a specific composition, due to which the withdrawal from anesthesia takes longer.
If colonoscopy and gastroscopy are required, sedation is selected by the anesthesiologist individually for each patient. This takes into account his condition, clinical picture and personal experience of the doctor.
Cost
Many people wonder where to get a sedated colonoscopy. This type of examination is available both in public hospitals and in private clinics. In the latter, everything is done at a higher level, but the cost of services will be noticeably higher. It is rather difficult to name specific figures, since prices vary in a very wide range depending on the region. For example, in Moscow, you will have to pay from 4,500 to 20,000 rubles for a colonoscopy. The price includes not only the examination itself, but also all medications.
The patient chooses the method of anesthesia for himself, based on his financial capabilities. At the same time, doctors always help to determine the most optimal option, and also talk about all the pros and cons of each method of anesthesia. It will not be superfluousread the reviews of patients who already have experience with this type of anesthesia. To avoid many negative consequences, it is still recommended to consult a doctor beforehand.
Alternative Lab Methods
Colonoscopy with sedation is not the only way to examine the condition of the internal walls of the intestine. Therefore, if you do not want to interfere with your body or are afraid to dive into a state of sleep, then there are alternative options. These are:
- Casule endoscopy. An innovative method with high efficiency. It is based on the introduction of a special small device equipped with a camera into the large intestine. Carrying out such a procedure does not cause any discomfort and pain to the patient. Also, the likelihood of injury to the mucous membrane is minimized. A few hours after the introduction, the probe is excreted from the body naturally. After that, the recorded information is taken from the integrated drive and the results are decoded. However, capsule endoscopy is not available in all medical facilities and the cost is prohibitive.
- Magnetic resonance imaging. This type of research is considered one of the best. It allows doctors not only to diagnose various diseases at the initial stage of development, but also to determine their etiology, as well as to get a complete picture of the patient's he alth status. During the examination, a special device is fixed on the body and takes high-quality detailed pictures in threeprojections. The photographs clearly show any pathology. The examination is carried out as comfortably and safely as possible. Therefore, if for some reason the patient cannot be sedated during colonoscopy, for example, due to the presence of some contraindications, then doctors in the vast majority of cases prescribe an MRI. However, magnetic resonance imaging has one significant drawback. With this method, cancerous tumors smaller than 10 millimeters in size cannot be detected. In addition, the body receives some dose of radiation.
According to experts, colonoscopy is still preferable. This is due to the fact that alternative diagnostic methods are only informative. Therapeutic measures cannot be carried out with their help.
What do patients say about the procedure?
As medical statistics show, many people have had colonoscopies with sedation. Reviews about this research method are rather contradictory. Some claim that the procedure went well, and during its implementation there were no discomfort and pain, while others say that they could hardly stand it. But everyone is of the opinion that anesthesia is necessary. In addition, much depends on the level of professionalism of the specialist.
As far as methods of pain relief are concerned, sedation is the best option. It is safe for he alth and does not require a long recovery after anesthesia, and modern drugs have relatively few contraindications and almost no side effects.
Conclusion
Colonoscopy is one of the innovative methods of examining the gastrointestinal tract, with the help of which doctors can assess the patient's he alth status, as well as eliminate some pathologies without surgical intervention. To agree to the procedure or not, each person must decide for himself. But it is better to be patient for a few minutes than a disease that is not detected in a timely manner will lead to very serious consequences. According to most patients, there is nothing wrong with colonoscopy, so you can safely agree to it without worrying about anything.
Never spare time and money for your own he alth. Remember that no one will follow him except you. Therefore, in order to avoid negative consequences, seek medical help in time.
