How Long Does It Take for a Colonoscopy and Endoscopy?

How Long Does It Take for a Colonoscopy Prep to Work?

Preparation for colonoscopy usually needs to start 6-8 hours before the examination, and the specific time depends on the type of intestinal cleansers used and the patient's personal constitution. Commonly used intestinal cleansers such as polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder need to complete intestinal cleansing within 4-6 hours after taking them to ensure the accuracy and safety of colonoscopy.

Intestinal preparation includes dietary adjustment and medication use. In terms of diet, it is recommended to start a low-fiber diet the night before and fast and abstain from water to achieve the best intestinal cleansing effect. In terms of medication, it is usually necessary to take intestinal cleansers according to the prescribed dose and time 1 day or 4-6 hours before the examination. During this period, you can walk or massage your abdomen appropriately to promote intestinal peristalsis and cleansing.

Note that preparation may need to be adjusted according to the individual's specific situation (such as intestinal obstruction, perforation, bleeding, etc.), and it is recommended to be carried out under the guidance of a doctor.

What Is the Difference Between a Normal Colonoscopy and an Anesthesia Colonoscopy?

The use of instruments for ordinary colonoscopy and anesthesia colonoscopy is basically the same. Both use colonoscopy for examination. The colonoscope consists of a flexible mirror body, a light source, a camera system and a biopsy channel, which can clearly observe the inner wall of the intestine. The main difference between the two lies in the patient's anesthesia state and the requirements of the operating environment. Ordinary colonoscopy is performed when the patient is awake, and the patient can feedback the discomfort in real time, while anesthesia colonoscopy requires intravenous injection of anesthetic drugs so that the patient can complete the examination in an unconscious state, so more stringent vital signs monitoring equipment is required, such as electrocardiograms, oximeters and sphygmomanometers. In addition, anesthesia colonoscopy requires professional anesthesiologists and resuscitation equipment to deal with possible anesthesia risks, while ordinary colonoscopy does not require these additional support. The examination process of anesthesia colonoscopy is more comfortable, and the patient will not feel obvious pain or discomfort, but a certain amount of recovery time is required after the operation. Although ordinary colonoscopy may cause short-term discomfort, normal activities can be resumed after the examination.

Is a Colonoscope a Rigid or Flexible Endoscope?

A colonoscope is a soft endoscope. Its body is made of flexible material and can be flexibly turned in the intestine, allowing doctors to observe the inner wall of the entire large intestine (including the rectum, sigmoid colon, descending colon, transverse colon, and ascending colon). Unlike the rigid endoscope design, the soft design not only reduces the patient's discomfort, but also better adapts to the curved structure of the intestine, improving the accuracy and safety of the examination. The characteristics of this soft endoscope make it the tool of choice for colonoscopy. Both ordinary colonoscopy and anesthesia colonoscopy rely on this flexibility and high-definition field of view.

What is the significance of colonoscopy?

1. Early detection of diseases

Colonoscopy can directly observe the details of the intestinal mucosa and can detect the following lesions early:

• Colorectal cancer

• Intestinal polyps (especially adenomatous polyps, which may develop into cancer)

• Ulcerative colitis

• Crohn's disease

• Intestinal diverticula

• Other intestinal inflammation or lesions

2. Cancer prevention

Through colonoscopy, doctors can remove polyps before they become cancerous, thereby preventing the occurrence of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is a slow-growing disease, and early detection and intervention can significantly reduce its risk.

3. Clear diagnosis

For the following symptoms, colonoscopy can help identify the cause:

• Blood in the stool or black stool

• Long-term abdominal pain or bloating

• Changes in bowel habits (such as alternating diarrhea and constipation)

• Unexplained weight loss

• Anemia or intestinal obstruction

4. Treatment and intervention

Colonoscopy can not only be used for diagnosis, but also for some therapeutic operations, such as:

• Removal of polyps or early tumors

• Hemostasis (such as lesions of intestinal bleeding)

• Dilation of narrowed intestinal segments

• Removal of foreign bodies

5. Monitoring and follow-up

For confirmed intestinal diseases (such as inflammatory bowel disease, polyposis, etc.), colonoscopy can be used to monitor the progression of the disease, evaluate the effectiveness of treatment, and formulate subsequent treatment plans.