Colonoscopy with anesthesia

Colonoscopy represents the gold standard in exploring the colon. It provides clear images and precise information about the colon, from the rectum to the distal part of the small intestine. This helps the doctor see inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, ulcers, bleeding, and muscle spasms.

Additionally, colonoscopy can be used to remove polyps, hemorrhoids, tumor formations in the colon, as well as to take tissue samples from suspicious lesions of the intestinal mucosa for subsequent microscopic examination. Thus, colonoscopy is the main method of prevention and detection of colon cancer.

The pre-anesthetic examination is the preliminary stage before anesthesia, with major importance in the conduct of surgeries under anesthesia, aimed at collecting clinical and paraclinical medical information and recommending additional examinations, as well as prescribing and adjusting drug therapy.

During the pre-anesthetic examination, discussions about anesthetic procedures and possible side effects take place.

The examination includes the colon, from the rectum to the distal part of the small intestine. Inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, ulcers, bleeding, and muscle spasms can be visualized

Preparation for colonoscopy 

Preparation for colonoscopy should begin 3 days before the investigation:
During this period, it is recommended to exclude meat, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, bread, cereals, pasta, coffee from the diet.

It is allowed to include in the diet:
1. Dairy products – milk, sour cream, sour milk, yogurt without dyes or additives, melted cheese, except cottage cheese!!!
2. Grated cheese on the 1st and 2nd day of preparation.
3. Omelet, on the 1st and 2nd day of preparation.
4. Clear broth, honey, clear juices, plain water, tea.

On the last (3rd) day of preparation it is allowed to consume only liquids (clear broth, clear juice, plain water, tea).
At 14:00 the preparation of the intestine begins. You need 4 sachets of Macrogol (Prolax Forte, Fortrans, Diagnol), which are dissolved in 4 liters of boiled water that has been cooled to room temperature. Drink it within 4-6 hours (from 14:00 to 20:00).
If you cannot find Macrogol (Prolax Forte, Fortrans, Diagnol) for the preparation of the intestine, you can use another preparation, Lactulose (Duphalac, Lactulac, Imoper) (400 ml), which is used as follows: at 14:00 dissolve 200 ml of Duphalac in 2.5 liters of plain water, consume gradually within 3-4 hours. Take a break from 18:00 to 19:00. At 19:00, another 200 ml of Duphalac is dissolved in 2.0 liters of water and consumed gradually within 2 hours, until 21:00. In the evening before sleep take 3-4 capsules of Simeticon 40 mg (Espumisan 40 mg, Balonix Med 80 mg, Flaton 50 mg, Flatulence 80 mg).
After this, only clear liquids can be consumed in the evening!
On the days intended for preparation for colonoscopy, you can still take the medicines that you usually take, except for iron and coal preparations.

In case of chronic constipation, it is recommended to take 20 ml of Dufalac solution, dissolved in a glass of water, in the morning and evening, starting 2 days before preparation.
It is not allowed to have an enema!!!
On the day of investigation, do not eat or drink anything! Come to CDG one hour before the scheduled investigation time. During this time, you will have a pre-anesthesia examination, necessary to assess your general condition and the anesthetic risk, followed by a consultation of the anesthesiologist. Express pre-anesthesia examination (ECG, blood count, ionogram and coagulogram) is mandatory and is done only at CDG on the day of colonoscopy. The previous results of the above-named investigations will not be accepted because they do not fully reflect your condition on the day of the procedure.
After colonoscopy you will be supervised and monitored by the anesthesiologist for about 1-2 hours. It is advisable to come with a companion.
On the day of the colonoscopy, it is not allowed to drive a car!!!
Since preparation for colonoscopy and information about your health condition are essential for the success of the procedure, it is recommended that you bring your medical record and the results of previous examinations, in case you have had an irrigoscopy, gastroscopy or colonoscopy.