Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is the examination of the rectum and colon using a colonoscope. It can be used to clarify disorders in the lower digestive tract (e.g. bleeding from the bowel, chronic diarrhea, changes in bowel habits, constipation or prolonged abdominal pain).

Colonoscopy can also be useful as a preventive examination by detecting colon polyps (tissue neoplasms, possible precursors of colon cancer) and, if possible, removing them directly using an electric snare or biopsy forceps. All tissue samples are sent to a pathology institute that specializes in diseases of the digestive tract.

Procedure of the examination

We perform colonoscopies using the latest generation of instruments and processors from the leading manufacturer of endoscopes. These technologies work with artificial intelligence and additional latest technological achievements to help doctors detect changes in the bowel at an early stage.

The best possible conditions for an optimal examination result are created by cleansing the bowel beforehand with laxative fluid. A clean bowel can be examined much better and more thoroughly and, if necessary, treated. The actual bowel preparation usually begins the day before the examination. You can find the instructions for optimal bowel cleansing on this page.

Patients generally sleep during the examination with a short-acting sedative (Propofol, Disoprivan®) under close monitoring of pulse and oxygen saturation in the blood. A venous cannula in the forearm is required for sedation.

Due to the sleep medication during the procedure, for legal reasons the patient is not allowed to drive a car (not even a bicycle) after the examination and must refrain from other potentially risky tasks.

As soon as the patient is well sedated, the thin and flexible instrument is inserted via the anus and usually advanced into the lowest part of the small intestine, into the terminal ileum. During the withdrawal of the endoscope, the mucous membrane of the large intestine is inspected in detail and tissue samples can be taken or polyps removed.

Normal tissue samples (biopsies) and small polyps can also be taken or removed from patients taking aspirin, Marcoumar, etc. In the case of larger polyps, the blood thinner must be stopped or changed for a few days. Ask your family doctor or us about this.

After the examination, patients are woken up quickly so that the findings can be discussed.

The time required for the entire examination (including pre- and post- discussion) is approx. 2 hours.

Why prevention?

I feel healthy, have no complaints, eat a balanced diet, do I need to have a scan?

Why is colonoscopy important? What does bowel cancer have to do with diet?

Questions that are answered in this video in collaboration with the Zurich Oncology Center.