Colonoscopy
Risks
- Bowel perforation (a hole or tear in the wall of the colon), requiring a repair operation (between 1 and 3 times out of 1,000 tests)
- Heavy or persistent bleeding from biopsy or polyp-removal sites (about 7 times out of 1,000 tests in which polyp-removal is done -- the larger the polyp, the higher the risk)
- Adverse reaction to sedative medication, causing breathing problems or low blood pressure (6 to 7 out of 10,000 tests)
- Infection requiring antibiotic therapy (very rare)
- Nausea, vomiting, bloating, or rectal irritation caused by medicines, taken by mouth, that cleanse the bowel
Special Considerations
You must sign an informed consent form. Several hours of rest is recommended after the test. To replace fluids lost because of laxatives and fasting, drink plenty of liquids after the test.
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