A sigmoidoscopy is where a doctor passes a tube up a patient's bowel from the rectum. This is done to see if there is anything wrong with a person's bowel. The patient is usually asked to lie on their left side with their knees drawn up. During the sigmoidoscopy, the doctor will take samples to send to a laboratory for analysis.
The old sigmoidoscopes were made of stainless steel, and were quite uncomfortable for the patient. A flex sigmoidoscope is a smaller, bendy tube with a light and camera at the top end, and it uses fiberoptic technology.
The flex sigmoidoscopy is a much more comfortable procedure for the patient. Naturally enough, people don't like the experience, so the usual way of doing it is by the doctor giving the patient an injection of a relaxant - usually valium/diazepam - into a vein. This will bring on a relaxed, twighlight sleep. When the patient is relaxed, it is much easier for the doctor to do the procedure, so it is quicker.
After a sigmoidoscopy and twilight sleep, the patient should not drive for 24 hours at least, and a friend or family member should be with them until they are recovered.
A gastroenterologist
However, compared with sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy is a longer process, causes more discomfort, and is more costly.
Yes, you can have a sigmoidoscopy while on your period. Menstruation does not typically interfere with the procedure or the ability of the healthcare provider to perform it effectively. However, it is advisable to inform the healthcare provider performing the sigmoidoscopy if you are menstruating, as they may take certain precautions or provide additional guidance to ensure the procedure goes smoothly.
50
Sigmoidoscopy is the examination of the large intestine starting from your rectum all the way to your colon. The procedure is what they class as minimally invasive.
The most serious complication of sigmoidoscopy is bowel perforation (tear). This complication is very rare, however, occurring only about once in every 7,500 procedures.
The regular flex is a stiffer flex than the mid flex. A regular flex is comparable to an 85 flex. The mid flex is closer to a 75 flex.
Sigmoidoscopy is used most often in screening for colorectal cancer or to determine the cause of rectal bleeding. It is also used for the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease and other benign diseases of the lower intestine.
For a cancer screening sigmoidoscopy, an abnormal result involves one or more noncancerous or precancerous polyps or tumors. Patients showing polyps have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer in the future.
Private insurance plans often cover the cost of sigmoidoscopy for screening in healthy individuals over 50, or for diagnostic purposes. Medicare covers the cost for diagnostic exams, and may cover the costs for screening exams.
knee-chest position / jack-knife position. :)
exam is not always adequate. A 2004 study reported that among older patients and women, sigmoidoscopy is not always effective, particularly because insertion depth is not adequate. For unknown reasons, this is almost twice as true for women as for men