What kind of sedation is used for colonoscopy

A colonoscopy is the gold standard for colon cancer screening. During the procedure, a doctor can view your entire colon and rectum, and remove potentially premalignant growths called polyps.

Major medical societies recommend screening for colorectal cancer beginning between the ages of 45 to For most patients, a sedative is given in intravenous form to help relax and minimize any discomfort during the procedure. But did you know that using a sedative is optional?

In many countries, sedation-free colonoscopies are the norm. Patients are alert and engaged during the procedure. Saving time is the greatest benefit of a sedation-free colonoscopy. If you are sedated for your colonoscopy, you will have restrictions after the procedure until the next day, such as not being able to drive or return to work.

You will require a ride home after your procedure, which also may cause your driver to take time off from work. After a sedation-free colonoscopy, you can resume normal activities right away — you can drive, run errands and generally get on with your day. The second benefit is increased safety.

Overall, the sedatives used for colonoscopies are very safe, but there is a small risk of side effects, such as drops in blood pressure, breathing problems, vomiting and prolonged sedation. These are avoided by having a sedation-free colonoscopy.

Colonoscopy has become very common, but there are important things everyone should know about preparation, anesthesia options, and recovery. Colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States for both men and women, taking an estimated 53, lives in , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Colonoscopy is a type of colorectal cancer screening that is doubly protective because it does more than provide early detection. Because colorectal cancer begins in abnormal growths called polyps, a colonoscopy can prevent the disease by identifying and removing polyps before they turn cancerous.

The U. Preventive Services Task Force recommends beginning some form of colon cancer screening at age 50 for people without a family history of the disease, based on convincing evidence that screening in adults ages 50—75 reduces colorectal cancer mortality.

Many professional organizations recommend that screening begin at a younger age for people with a family history of colorectal cancer or other risk factors. Some evidence suggests that Black Americans are at higher risk and should begin screening at age The task force advises that people who choose a colonoscopy as their screening method should repeat it every 10 years until they turn If polyps are detected during your colonoscopy, you may be advised to repeat the procedure in less than 10 years.

The instrument is equipped with a tiny video camera and light at its tip. The doctor removes any polyps discovered in the intestine and may remove small pieces of other types of abnormal tissue for further examination.

The patient is connected to equipment that monitors heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. The patient also receives oxygen through the nose.

Almost all colonoscopies in the United States are performed with patients under a level of sedation or anesthesia that prevents them from feeling anything. Often, patients are asleep for the entire procedure. Patients who ask for light sedation are more likely to feel discomfort and perhaps some pain during the procedure. The likelihood increases with no sedation.

Your doctor will provide instructions on changing your diet for a few days before the procedure and cleaning out your bowels the day before, which involves taking a combination of laxatives. The laxatives will cause diarrhea and frequent trips to the bathroom. This colonoscopy prep is essential for allowing your doctor a clear view of your colon during the procedure. Among those patients receiving anesthesia, 58 percent covered by Medicare and 81 percent by private insurers were considered healthy, low-risk patients.

Most often, either moderate sedation or deep sedation with the anesthetic propofol are used for colonoscopies. An anesthesiologist is sometimes present for moderate sedation — sometimes called conscious sedation by patients, though the term is technically incorrect. Propofol, however, is almost exclusively the domain of licensed anesthesia providers because it can depress breathing and blood pressure as the patient enters deeper levels of sedation.

Gastroenterologists in North America are increasingly pushing to administer propofol. Sappenfield and White said that outside the U. The benefits of going without sedation, Sappenfield and White noted, include decreased time in the hospital or clinic, a quicker return to daily activities, and lower cost and increased convenience.

Some studies show the benefits of sedation use, including an increased rate of polyp detection and exam completion. And some riskier patients are not good candidates to go without sedation, including those with a severe disease or condition, such as uncontrolled diabetes or morbid obesity, among others. Read More. Vaginal yeast infect Academic Health Center The University of Florida Academic Health Center - the most comprehensive academic health center in the Southeast - is dedicated to high-quality programs of education, research, patient care and public service.

Research Studies Learn about UF clinical research studies that are seeking volunteers. Back to Colonoscopy. On the day of your colonoscopy you'll need to stop eating and drinking — your letter will tell you when to stop. You'll speak with a nurse about what's going to happen. They will ask you to change into a hospital gown.

You may be offered things to make you more comfortable and make the test easier, such as:. You cannot drive for 24 hours if you have sedation. Someone will need to pick you up from hospital in a car or taxi.