Colonoscopy

Taking a proactive approach is essential when it comes to maintaining your health. At Steven Batash MD, we are passionate about helping each patient feel their best and achieve optimal wellness. For patients who are experiencing abdominal pain, and for patients who are 50 or older, we offer colonoscopy exams in order to detect and prevent colon cancer, as well as investigate intestinal signs and symptoms.  

What is a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is both a preventative and diagnostic exam that is used to detect changes or abnormalities within the large intestine and rectum. It is an outpatient procedure that allows the doctor to view the inside of the lower digestive tract. During the process, a long flexible tube with a tiny video camera on the tip enables the doctor to view the entire colon. This process allows the ability to screen for colon cancer and detect abnormalities.

Why It’s Done

A colonoscopy may be recommended to:

Identify Signs and Symptoms

Colonoscopies enable the doctor to investigate the cause of symptoms including abdominal bleeding, rectal bleeding, constipation, and other intestinal concerns.

Colon Cancer Screening

For patients 50 or older, and at risk of colon cancer, or if you have no risk of colon cancer aside from age, a colonoscopy may be recommended every ten years. This is a preventative measure to screen for colon cancer.

Detect Polyps

If you have experienced polyps in the past, a follow-up colonoscopy may be recommended to search for, or remove any additional polyps.

What to Expect

Prior to beginning the procedure, a sedative is administered in order to ensure optimal patient comfort. To begin, the patient is advised to lay on their left side. The doctor will then use a long, flexible colonoscope to examine the lining of the colon. A tiny camera on the end of the colonoscope allows images to be transmitted to a monitor. This enables the doctor to better examine the entire intestine. If a growth or polyp is identified, it may be removed or sampled. If necessary, a biopsy of tissue in question can reveal whether the area is cancerous. The entire procedure process takes about 30 to 60 minutes.

Following the colonoscopy, you will be able to go home once the sedative has worn off, and you are deemed safe to leave. We will discuss any observations that day, and if biopsies were taken, you will receive those results at a later date. You may experience some bloating or cramping, but a full recovery can be expected by the next day.

Contact Us

Take a proactive approach when it comes to your health by reaching out to an experienced gastroenterologist at Steven Batash MD located in Queens, NY. Dr. Batash provides both cancer screenings and routine colonoscopy exams. Contact us today and schedule your consultation for overall health and wellness!