PreOp® Endoscopy of Large Intestine Patient Education

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Your doctor has recommended that you have a lower GI endoscopy. But what does that actually mean?

A lower GI endoscopy is a diagnostic procedure used by your doctor to inspect the inside of your rectum and colon. While it's considered a surgical procedure, endoscopy does not involve an incision.

Instead, your doctor will pass a flexible tube, called an endoscope through your anus and into your rectum and colon.

This tube has a tiny video camera mounted on its tip.

It also contains a small tool used for taking tissue samples.

Your doctor can use the endoscope to inspect the entire lower half of your digestive system.


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Your doctor can use the endoscope to inspect the entire lower half of your digestive system.
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In some cases, the shape of the colon makes it impossible to pass the endoscope as far into the body as the doctor would like.

Your doctor may decide to take a series of x-rays - or even to perform surgery - in order to inspect the hidden area.
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Reasons for undergoing a lower GI endoscopy vary. You may have been suffering from one or more of a number symptoms - including blood in your stool, weight loss, chronic irregularity or other problems associated with the digestive system.

Some gastrointestinal symptoms can be warning signs of serious medical problems and you should take your doctor's recommendation to have an endoscopy very seriously.

Luckily, the vast majority of medical problems diagnosed by endoscopy are treatable and you should look forward to improved health and comfort as a result of the information gathered during the procedure.

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Your doctor understands that all medical care benefits from close collaboration between physician and patient -- so be sure to review, with your doctor, all risks and alternatives and make sure you understand the reasons behind the recommendation for this particular procedure.

Now let's talk in detail about the procedure your doctor has recommended. That particular recommendation was based on a number of factors:
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* the state of your health,

* the severity of your condition,

* an assessment of alternative treatments or procedures and finally,

* the risks associated with doing nothing at all.

And remember, the final decision is up to you. No one can force you to undergo a surgical procedure against your will.

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Because endoscopy is a diagnostic procedure, there are very few alternatives.

In many cases, patients are given a barium x-ray as a preliminary diagnostic procedure,
but because an x-ray does not allow your doctor to see directly into your body, there is a chance that an x-ray won't be able to reveal the true nature of your medical problem.

During the procedure, your doctor will be on the lookout for unusual lumps or growths.
With the endoscope, small tissue samples can be easily removed for laboratory analysis.

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