Colonoscopy is a method to thoroughly and carefully test and examine the intestinal wall that cannot be examined by a doctor. In addition, disorders such as colon polyps, blood in the stool, bowel cancer, and a variety of changes in defecation can be easily dragonized and quickly treated by colonoscopy.

• Examining signs and symptoms of problems with intestine such intestinal bleeding, chronic constipation and diarrhea, abdominal pain and so on,
• Screening for colon cancer (people aged over 50)
• Looking for polyp by a doctor.

Before a colonoscopy, you need to clean and empty your colon. Any residual feces in your colon may make the view of your colon unclear during a colonoscopy.  To empty your colon, your doctor may ask you to follow a special diet three days before a colonoscopy.

Normally, you can’t eat anything the day before your procedure. You can only consume medicinal and colorless liquids such as water. You are not allowed to drink milk and must avoid using red fluids that can be mistaken for blood during colonoscopy. You may not be able to eat or drink anything after midnight (before a colonoscopy). The doctor will usually prescribe laxatives in the powder or liquid form. You may be instructed to take the laxative two or three nights before your colonoscopy or you may be asked to use the laxative both the night before the procedure and in the morning.

In some cases, you may need to use an unauthorized enema kit- either night or a few hours before the procedure to empty your colon. In general, such a kit is effective only in emptying the colon and is usually not recommended as a primary method and even your doctor may not even recommend this to you.

Before starting the colonoscopy, intravenous fluids (serum) and sedatives are injected to help the patient feel comfortable. Pulse rate, blood pressure, and breathing are regularly checked by the device and you should lie down slowly to your left side, and usually by general anesthesia, you will sleep. A colonoscope is made of a very thin and extremely flexible tube with the small camera embedded on the top that can show very accurate and clear images like a microscope. This tube is more than 1cm in diameter and can easily move through your intestines and display images on the monitor simultaneously.

The tube enters your anus slowly and moves gently without feeling any pain. When it reaches the colon, the doctor can see accurate images of your colon and examines it if there is a problem. In case that biopsy and or removal of polyp are needed the doctor performs it with the help of the colonoscope.

After the colonoscopy, you should be under the supervision of the doctor for 1-2 hours so that Your consciousness will return to its normal state. After a colonoscopy, you will likely suffer from some abdominal pain and bloating, which is completely normal and it will go away thoroughly after a short time. You should start your special diet under the supervision of a doctor and limit your activities a little more if your doctor has taken an action to conduct a biopsy or remove your colon polyps during a colonoscopy. Risks and side effects of colonoscopy are very rare.

Use any pain medications or stool softeners as prescribed.

Drink liquids, including prune juice which can help soften stools.

Stop drinking alcohol for the first 24 hours.

Refrain from driving or doing heavy works until at least day after your colonoscopy

Adherence to the temporary and special diet prescribed by the doctor if the polyp is removed during a colonoscopy.

You may be bloated after the test, which is normal and it is better to walk in a comfortable place for relieving any gas (flatulent) after a colonoscopy. You have to visit your doctor quickly if blood clots were found in your stool or persistent abdominal pain or fever were felt after colonoscopy.

• Adverse reaction to the sedative used
• Bleeding from the biopsy, polypectomy, or abnormal tissue’s site,
• Bowel perforation
• Recovery time after a colonoscopy

As up-to-date methods and medical equipment were invented, Iranian hospitals were equipped with the modern one and Iranian doctors benefited from them. Applying these more precise and mostly non-invasive ways help doctors for diagnosing and treating different types of diseases like colon cancer. Colonoscopy is considered one of the modern and most commonly used methods in Iran for the diagnosis of colon cancer.