Guide To Getting A Colonoscopy

Risks Of The Procedure

In individuals who are considered at average risk, complications occur in twenty-eight of every one thousand colonoscopies. This risk of experiencing complications increases when a physician discovers abnormalities in the intestine or has to remove a piece of tissue for a biopsy. One of the biggest complications that can occur during a colonoscopy is intestinal perforations, which describes the presence of tiny tears or lacerations in the colon or rectum wall. These perforations are produced when a physician's instrument accidentally puts too much pressure on the patient's bowel to the point of tearing the tissue. Small intestinal perforations can be managed with bed rest, antibiotics, and watchful waiting, while more significant intestinal perforations in the bowel may require emergency surgical repair and medication. A patient who does have tissue samples removed from their colon during the procedure may experience post-procedure bleeding. Post-polypectomy electrocoagulation syndrome is another uncommon complication of a colonoscopy and it is caused by colon injury during the procedure.

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