A colonoscopy procedure is performed by a gastroenterologist for the purpose of examining the colon, or extracting sample cells to be tested for malignancy.
It is an outpatient procedure, which means the patient need not be confined in the hospital, and will simply be spending a few minutes in the clinic while the physician performs the procedure. There are important preparations that have to be made for a colonoscopy, one of which is ensuring that nothing is taken by mouth by the patient, whether solids or liquids, at least 24 hours before the procedure.
Another preparation is for the patient to take laxatives in scheduled doses, as a way of cleansing the intestines of fecal matter. It is crucial that these guidelines are observed, otherwise, the gastroenterologist may not be able to get a full and clear view of the colon which is to be examined. Hence, accuracy of the results can be significantly compromised.
