• Heavy or persistent bleeding from biopsy or polyp-removal sites
• Hole or tear in the wall of the colon (bowel perforation) that requires a repair operation
• Fluid imbalances in the body due to enemas and laxatives given before the procedure
• Infection needing antibiotic therapy (very rare)
• Nausea, vomiting, bloating, or rectal irritation caused by medicines taken by mouth to cleanse the bowel
• Reaction to sedative medication, causing breathing problems or low blood pressure

Be sure to tell your health care provider if you have a history of congestive heart failure, kidney disease, or cirrhosis.

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.

Images

Colonoscopy

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Colonoscopy Results

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Colonoscopy Prevention

Review Date: 11/23/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)