Other Therapies

These are samples taken from the bowel to look for any inflammation or any other significant pathology.

Colonoscopy's great use is in the detection of colon cancer and colon polyps. Prior to the introduction of colonoscopies, removal of polyps required a major open abdominal operation, and required a 2 week stay in hospital and a longer convalescence. Most polyps now can be removed easily and safely without surgery.

Periodic colonoscopy is a very useful procedure for the follow up of patients with previous polyps or colon cancer. Regular colonoscopy can reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer by up to 90%. How frequent it is performed depends on your family history and previous history of significant polyps. Generally, this is within 3-5 years.

Polyps are abnormal growths of tissue on the bowel lining which vary in size. Most polyps can be removed at the time of the procedure. Polyps are usually removed because they may cause bleeding or can become a cancer. Although the majority of polyps are benign (not cancerous) a small percentage may contain an area of cancer or develop into a cancer if not removed.

Removal of a polyp often involves passing a snare (wire loop) through the colonoscope over the polyp and then cutting through the stem using an electrical current. The risks involved are small and far less risky than an operation or leaving the polyp to perhaps form a cancer. These risks range from severe bleeding (1% of large polyps), to perforating the colon, (less than 1 in 1 000 for polypectomy procedures). These risks are very rare but may require urgent treatment or even an operation. The risk of their occurrence is far outweighed by the advantages of removing the polyp.

This may be performed at the time of colonoscopy. It is harmless blue food dye that is sprayed onto the lining of the bowel. This can improve the detection of early and flat colonic polyps by up to 1 00%. You may notice blue/green discolouration of your bowel motions after this procedure.

If a bleeding point is identified at colonoscopy, this may require therapy with an injection, the use of diathermy (gold probe), an Argon plasma coagulator or metal clips to stop the bleeding.

If a large, flat polyp is detected, then a cushion of salty water is injected into the base of he polyp to lift this up. This reduces the risk of damage or perforation to the underlying bowel when the polyp is removed.

If a polyp is detected with a large stalk, a special suture may be placed at the bottom of the stalk (endoloop) or a small metal clip (endoclip), to reduce the risk of bleeding after the polyp is removed.

If a polyp is detected with some worrying features, then a black ink marker is placed around the polyp site. This permanently marks the site so it can always be checked again in the future, or if the area of bowel requires surgery, then the surgeon will immediately identify the site where the polyp was removed.

If a narrowing within the bowel is identified, this occasionally will require stretching (Dilatation) with a special balloon that is passed through the colonoscope into this stricture and then inflated to stretch the narrowed area.