Flexible Sigmoidoscopy in Northwest Arkansas

The staff at your local endoscopy center will instruct you to arrive for your flexible sigmoidoscopy 1 – 1.5 hours ahead of time. This is to ensure you have time to complete paperwork and get ready for the exam. You will be asked to put on a medical gown. Usually, an intravenous (IV) catheter will not be started since, in general, sedation is not administered with this procedure. You might be hooked up to equipment that will permit the provider and staff to watch your oxygen levels, heart rate, electrocardiogram, pulse, breathing, and blood pressure during and after the exam.

After you are inside the exam room, you'll be directed to lie on your left side on the table. The physician will perform an exam of your rectum. The sigmoidoscope will then be slowly positioned into the rectum. The scope will then be carefully advanced throughout the sigmoid colon. A tiny bit of air will be inserted by way of the scope into the colon to help the physician see. Any liquid still in the colon after the preparation can be rinsed and suctioned out by the scope. Depending on what your doctor notices, several things can be performed at the time of the exam, including removal of polyps, control of bleeding, and biopsies. At the end of the exam, all possible remaining fluid and air are removed from the colon by way of the scope. Depending on the results, the exam takes approximately 5 – 15 minutes.

Because anesthesia is not typically necessary, once the procedure is finished, you will be asked to change back into your clothes and will be discharged from the endoscopy unit. Assuming sedation is not necessary, you'll be permitted to drive and perform your usual activities. The majority of patients are able to drink and eat regularly following their discharge from the endoscopy unit, but unique directions regarding activity, eating, and medications will be provided in advance of discharge. After the exam, the nurse and/or doctor will review the results of the procedure with you. You will also be sent home with a written report. You will be alerted of any biopsy results within one week.

By all standards, sigmoidoscopy is a very safe test. Overall, complications are seen in fewer than 1% of patients. Most complications are minor. Still, should a complication occur, it could create a need for surgery and/or hospitalization. Before the procedure, a consent form will be reviewed with the patient by the nursing staff. Should any concerns or questions arise, these can be reviewed with your specialist ahead of the procedure.

Bleeding could happen with biopsies and the removal of polyps. Again, a concerning amount of bleeding, which could involve a blood transfusion or hospitalization, is highly unusual. Still, bleeding has been known to occur during the procedure or up to two weeks after the exam in the case that a polyp is extracted.

Perforation or puncture of the colon can occur. This may be realized at the time of the exam, or it might not be apparent until a short time later. In most cases, a puncture will require hospitalization and surgery. This is an unusual complication, even when polyps are extracted. It is imperative that the patient contact the provider's office urgently if symptoms manifest after the exam like growing abdominal pain, fever, or bleeding.

As with any other procedure, a sigmoidoscopy is not perfect. There is a slight, accepted risk that tissue abnormalities — including cancer and polyps — can be missed at the time of the procedure. It is vital to continue to maintain check-ups with your providers as instructed and inform them of any new or recurring symptoms. Please speak with your GI Alliance of Arkansas provider in the event that you think of any questions or concerns.