COLONOSCOPY
Colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that utilizes a flexible fiberoptic colonoscope inserted into
the rectum to examine the large intestine (colon) lining visually. It is indicated for patients with a
history of constipation, diarrhea, persistent rectal bleeding, and lower abdominal pain when the
results of proctosigmoidoscopy and a barium enema test are negative or inconclusive.
The nurse‘s responsibility during colonoscopy encompasses different tasks to ensure the patient’s
safety before, during, and after the procedure. It is also the nurse’s responsibility to bowel prep the
patient for colonoscopy, obtain informed consent and ease the patient’s anxiety by providing
information about the procedure.
Aside from assisting the physician during the colonoscopy, another essential task of the nurse is to
ensure patient safety when the colonoscope is reprocessed. Proper cleaning, disinfection, and
sterilization of the equipment is an important step to prevent infection from patient to patient.
Proper reprocessing involves wiping the scope tube with a lint-free cloth soaked using a detergent
solution, then taking it to a sterile reprocessing room for meticulous cleaning, leak testing, visual
examination, and sterilizing.
, Colonoscopy Indication
Colonoscopy is indicated for several reasons, which includes:
Screen for colon and rectal cancer
Detect and evaluate inflammatory and ulcerative bowel disease
Locate the source of lower GI bleeding and perform hemostasis by coagulation
Determine the cause of lower GI disorders, especially when barium and proctosigmoidoscopy
results are inconclusive
Assist diagnose colonic strictures and benign or malignant lesions
Evaluate the colon postoperatively for recurrence of polyps and malignant lesions
Investigate iron-deficiency anemia of unknown origin
Remove colon polyps
Remove foreign objects and sclerosing strictures by laser
Contraindication
This procedure is contraindicated for:
Pregnant women near term
Patients with bleeding disorders
Patients who had a recent acute myocardial infarction or abdominal surgery
Patients with ischemic bowel disease, acute diverticulitis, peritonitis, fulminant
granulomatous colitis, perforated viscus, or fulminant ulcerative colitis: For these cases or for
screening purposes, virtual colonoscopy may help visualize polyps before they become
concerns.
Procedure
Colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that utilizes a flexible fiberoptic colonoscope inserted into
the rectum to examine the large intestine (colon) lining visually. It is indicated for patients with a
history of constipation, diarrhea, persistent rectal bleeding, and lower abdominal pain when the
results of proctosigmoidoscopy and a barium enema test are negative or inconclusive.
The nurse‘s responsibility during colonoscopy encompasses different tasks to ensure the patient’s
safety before, during, and after the procedure. It is also the nurse’s responsibility to bowel prep the
patient for colonoscopy, obtain informed consent and ease the patient’s anxiety by providing
information about the procedure.
Aside from assisting the physician during the colonoscopy, another essential task of the nurse is to
ensure patient safety when the colonoscope is reprocessed. Proper cleaning, disinfection, and
sterilization of the equipment is an important step to prevent infection from patient to patient.
Proper reprocessing involves wiping the scope tube with a lint-free cloth soaked using a detergent
solution, then taking it to a sterile reprocessing room for meticulous cleaning, leak testing, visual
examination, and sterilizing.
, Colonoscopy Indication
Colonoscopy is indicated for several reasons, which includes:
Screen for colon and rectal cancer
Detect and evaluate inflammatory and ulcerative bowel disease
Locate the source of lower GI bleeding and perform hemostasis by coagulation
Determine the cause of lower GI disorders, especially when barium and proctosigmoidoscopy
results are inconclusive
Assist diagnose colonic strictures and benign or malignant lesions
Evaluate the colon postoperatively for recurrence of polyps and malignant lesions
Investigate iron-deficiency anemia of unknown origin
Remove colon polyps
Remove foreign objects and sclerosing strictures by laser
Contraindication
This procedure is contraindicated for:
Pregnant women near term
Patients with bleeding disorders
Patients who had a recent acute myocardial infarction or abdominal surgery
Patients with ischemic bowel disease, acute diverticulitis, peritonitis, fulminant
granulomatous colitis, perforated viscus, or fulminant ulcerative colitis: For these cases or for
screening purposes, virtual colonoscopy may help visualize polyps before they become
concerns.
Procedure
