Colonoscopy Risks

Virtually, the colonoscopy procedure is risks free. Than means there are almost no risks associated to the colonoscopy. Statistically talking, the rate of colonoscopy complications is as low as 0, 35% - yes, that is less than 1 %, less than half of a percent actually. If we talk people, that would be like 35 complications in 10 000 procedures. The risks during therapeutic colonoscopy procedure is a little higher, but still lower than the risk of the disease we are all afraid – colon cancer. That would be like 2,3% vs 6%

Colonoscopy risks are generally divided in procedure risks and anesthesia risks. Procedure risks include: bleeding, gut perforation, postpolypectomy syndrome, and infection.

Bleeding During Colonoscopy Procedure

Colic bleeding is quite rare during regular procedures. The incidence of bleeding is around 0, 01% of all routine colonoscopies. The complication is mainly not so dangerous, as can be easy observed and treated endoscopically or even can be resolved by its own. More frequent, bleeding happens during curative endoscopies, when a polyp is removed. It happens in 30 % to 50% (a half) of therapeutical colonoscopies. Any colon bleeding up to seven days after a polyp removal is, most probably, procedure related.

Perforation

During colonoscopy, especially if the doctor doesn’t have enough experience, another complication can occur. It is called perforation and means a hole or a tear in the intestinal wall. The most frequent cause of tears is the excessive distention caused by the air from the intestine. Also, manipulating the colonoscope, doctor can accidentally puncture or even tear the wall. The perforation risk is low in diagnostic colonoscopies and higher in curative colonoscopies. The treatment of gut tears is different, depending on the defect dimensions – it can be sutured during an emergency surgery or can be treated without the surgery (the hole should be very small and the colon well prepared in this case) – by simple observation and antibiotics administration.

Infection

Infections due to colonoscopy procedure is very infrequent and a very non – specific complication. It occurs due to the fact that colonoscope is not properly cleaned and is not disinfected after the previous patient. Most of the infections transmitted during a colonoscopy procedure point to a medical personnel error. The risk of infection is very, very low, but present.

Postpolypectomy syndrome

The postpolypectomy syndrome is still discussed in medical society. It is considered that the syndrome is caused by the burn of the mucosal layer of colon during the colonoscopy. Symptoms appear anywhere from 12 hours to a couple of days and are non-specific: abdominal pain, fever, elevated white blood cell count. Symptoms can be caused by a lot of other illnesses and the important point for the right diagnosis is the colonoscopy procedure performed in the past couple of days. It is treated with rest, iv administered fluids ant antibiotics.

Anesthesia related risks

Anesthetic risks are most frequent risks in colonoscopic diagnosis. Patients are normally (in the absence of contraindications) sedated during the procedure. This involves the risk of allergic reactions, breath depression, local reaction to the injection, and low blood pressure. Low blood pressure cause nausea and vomiting. However, anesthetic reactions are easily treated and easily supported.

Well, here you have the fool list of colonoscopy risks.