What is colonoscopy ?
Colonoscopy refers to a procedure in which your doctor directly visualises the lower part of your gastrointestinal system which includes distal small intestine, colon, rectum, anus.

Do you really need to undergo a colonoscopy procedure?
When you present to your doctor with symptoms related to lower part of your digestive system like constipation, blood in the stools, diarrhoea, and many other such problems; you may be a candidate to undergo colonoscopy. In this way it is used to identify your problem.
It also allows your doctor to take a sample of your tissue (biopsy) for arriving at an accurate diagnosis.
Colonoscopy also helps in treatment of certain problems like lower gastrointestinal bleeding or performing certain procedures like polypectomy etc.
To sum it up it is used to investigate symptoms, to diagnose your disease and treat your problem.

There Interesting recommendations from the developed countries regarding utilisation of colonoscopy as screening tool for picking up colon and rectal cancer at early stage.

American college of Gastroenterology (ACG) recommendation reads below *
“We recommend colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in average-risk individuals between ages 50 and 75 yr. to reduce incidence of advanced adenoma, CRC, and mortality from CRC”

How is the procedure of colonoscopy done?
It is typically done in an pre-planned and elective setting on an outpatient basis after a period of bowel preparation (some patients prefer to get admitted and the test done for their own convenience). To prepare your bowel you will be asked to consume a liquid preparation over a period of one to two hours following which you will have some episodes of loose motions (typically 8-10 times which are liquid in nature), this process of bowel cleaning is essential as to enable a clear view of your large bowel. If the preparation is inadequate or inappropriate you might be asked to repeat the bowel preparation and to undergo the test again.

It is usually carried out under sedation (a lighter form of anaesthesia) to reduce the discomfort associated with the procedure and to enable your doctor for more complete examination. Entire procedure will be briefed to you by the nursing personnel who will be accompanying and assisting you during the entire procedure. Thin, flexible fully sterilized colonoscope is gently inserted into your anus under the vision while you are comfortable and lying over a couch on to your left side and the procedure is carried out.
The procedure is typically painless and lasts around 15 minutes. Once the procedure is completed you will have only minor abdominal bloating and discomfort which settles within a span of few minutes or after passing motion.
Post-procedure you will be able to resume your daily routine after consultation with your doctor.

What should you know about the colonoscopy equipment before you undergo the procedure?
With extensive research and expanding technology there are many advances in the field of medicine which help in early diagnosis, accurate treatment. It is important that your hospital and doctors keep in track with all the available advancements.
Advanced image enhancement modalities in endoscopy and colonoscopy offer superiority over the traditional white light imaging. Blue laser imaging, linked colour imaging, narrow band imaging are the recent advancements in this field and are embraced in many internationally reputed centres of excellence. Simply stating image qualities in traditional white light endoscopy is like taking a picture in old generation non touch screen phone while that of advanced imaging modalities is like of high-end new generation touch screen phones. Advanced technology and equipment implies accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment allowing patient centred care.

Is the procedure of colonoscopy completely sterile??
It is obvious that maintaining strict cleanliness and sterility cycle is crucial for the procedure of colonoscopy to be completely safe. To maintain the sterility and aseptic precautions various hospitals adapt different techniques. This is the least talked about part of the entire colonoscopy procedure flow-chart. With increasing awareness of various hospital borne infections and emergence of pandemic in the form of COVID-19 sterilisation of colonoscopes is gaining much more importance. Simple wiping of colonoscope or chemical disinfection for brief period is no longer the standard of care. Colonoscope reprocessors and automated washers are the new gold standard disinfection process. When performed with proper aseptic precautions and standard of care disinfection procedures colonoscopy is completely sterile procedure.

Who should be performing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures?
Medical or Surgical Gastroenterologists are the qualified doctors who usually perform this procedure. Qualification and experience are the two main assets which enable your doctor to identify and treat your problem in a sound and confident manner.

Why should you get your colonoscopy procedure done at the Harini Hospital?
To begin with, patient evaluation process and decision making are based on international standards and guidelines.
Our centre is the only tertiary care private gastroenterology centre in the state of Andhra Pradesh to have a team of doctors which compromises of both medical (DM gastroenterology) and surgical specialities (Mch Surgical gastroenterology) who reside in-house. Combined experience of the team is greater than any other gastroenterology hospital in our state.
Our experience and expertise are backed by adaptation of technology and bringing the most advanced endoscopic systems in the world available for our people in our state. We perform endoscopic procedures using Fujifilm Lazario endoscopes and Olympus 190 endoscopes with entire armamentarium of Narrow band imaging, blue laser imaging, linked colour imaging included in our basket. ( we are proud to say the third in our entire country to adapt this technology for endoscopic and colonoscopy procedures) Complete chain of aseptic precautions is taken, and sterility is ensured all through the process. Advanced automated endoscope reprocessors ensure highest form of sterility and guarantee that there is no chance of hospital acquired infection ( we are the only hospital in our state to use reprocessors to allow complete sterilisation).
4 dedicated endoscopic suites are available where the procedures are continuously performed as per the scheduled time; there are attached waiting rooms for attenders and recovery rooms for the patient where the a
We are proud to say that this top-notch high-end technology is introduced for the first time in our state at Harini hospitals (there are only two other places in our state where it is available). Harini hospitals is the only centre in the state of Andhra Pradesh to offer all such services under single roof, thus making quality care with international standards accessible to the people.

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