What are the Risks of Colonoscopy

Every medical procedure has it's risks, including colonoscopy. It is an extremely safe procedure when done by the right professional. Dr. Jeffrey Weber discusses some of the risks of colonoscopy in this video. The most feared complication, perforation of the colon, happens less than 1 in 10,000 cases. Taking polyps out does increase risk of the procedure depending on the number and size. Most likely you will feel like nothing happened after your colonoscopy.

Dr. Jeffrey Weber, Chief of Medicine at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Western Regional Medical Center, earned a medical degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he also earned a bachelor's degree. Dr. Weber completed both an internship and residency in internal medicine at the Georgetown Division of the District of Columbia General Hospital in Washington, D.C. He then moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

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[DaRyteJuan]

If Obamacare hadn’t mandated insurance companies to cover the first colonoscopy starting at age 50, the medical community wouldn’t be recommending them.

For every 1, 000 colonoscopies, they only save about 29 lives. On top of that, they’re only given about 6 minutes to examine the colon as they retract the scope. In one study, the same doctor performed the exam two times in a row in quick succession. The finding was that 6% - 27% of the time, they missed observing polyps.

If you don’t have any symptoms, don’t have any first relatives who had colon cancer and aren’t obese, you’re extremely unlikely to have an abnormal result.

[youareyourfood]

Nearly bled to death!!! My other half had one done. They cut 10 polyps out and sent her home. Long story short --- she ended up back in the emergency room 3 times. She nearly bled to death twice. Was even non-responsive for 1 and a half hours. They had to give her 3 units of blood. She was sent to intensive care where she was experiencing other issues due to the blood loss. They eventually decided to go in for a 3rd colonoscopy and put clamps where the 10 polyps were. That appeared to solve the problem. Her and I both say, NEVER AGAIN!!! I'm on a VA trial program testing for colorectal issues by sending in fecal samples once a year. I believe it's function is to compare, Sample vs Colonoscopy when it comes to saving lives. I say, 1st line of defense, eat better.

[rockyalvarez]

You forgot to mention the real risk of infection due to inproperly cleaned colodalscopes. People should investigate how the scope being used on them was cleaned. Was it disinfected or sterolized? There is a big differance. Do some research on Google regarding this before having this test done. Be informed!

[carlpahnke]

For routine screening of average risk patients Cologuard is the way to go. It's the latest test on the market and with DNA it detects 94% of early stage cancers that are curable. Colonoscopy doesn't do any better than that. Colonoscopy should be used only for diagnosis if you test positive after a Cologuard test. Most people do not need a colonoscopy.

[todaysrealhealth]

One in 10000 is high. However complications are 1 in 350. It's not prevention. Prevention is a high fiber plant diet and exercise.

[Colduck]

Had one done today..I did my research and did the prep properly..went in for my appointment. They put me under and the next thing I woke up in the recovery rm..no polyps no cancer ..just rhoids which I knew I had🤗🤣..but am glad I did..the only thing to be scared of is not knowing..am a 53 year old male and one less thing to worry about for 10 years till my next one 🤣

[bernardpopp]

Ephemeral Silence
How can I ever thank you? Will pass this on & will cancel my appt.

[MOAB-UT]

"In the right hands." The problem is you don't usually know who will do it. Complications are a lot more than 1 in 10k. A lot more. Many polyps are not even cancerous. The procedure can result in long term pain and other issues- severe even as well as infections that can be lasting. I am not saying they don't have value- they can but they are over prescribed money makers. I won't risk one but if I had other symptoms or family history I might. I don't see the value in risking my good health. Keep in mind, years ago, they were not even recommended if you were otherwise healthy. This is a money grab- just like how they lowered the criterion for blood pressure, sugar, etc. Lowering the bar makes more money. Notice they never say a word about improving the root cause which is diet and exercise- never, ever. That kills credibility IMHO...but do what you want. I am not an expert and this is not advice of any kind. I don't care either about your stories about how it saved this life or that. It's rare. Not impressed. Improve your diet and overall health and I will be super impressed. I did this. It is the longer, harder road but it can be done. Don't be lazy and just go for tests. You can't test your way out of Cancer people.

[DucatiQueen]

I always end up in places like this when I'm eating 😩

[pp]

It’s always best to get this procedure done in the hospital. There’s a lot that can go wrong. Surgical/ endoscopy centers are all privately run. Cutting corners and shortcuts are almost universal in the US, as healthcare costs keep rising. The procedure is best done with anesthesia, but in a stand-alone facility, there’s usually only one anesthesiologist on duty. That means there’s no backup help. It also means that supplies are usually inadequate. Every single doctor has varying skill levels he can perform. In a hospital setting, there’s always backup available, and cost cutting/ shortcuts are harder to get away with. Patient safety is more regulated and reinsured. Gastroenterologist often prefer to do procedures in an endoscopy center because they often own them (u aren’t supposed to know that), there’s no competition regarding time slots (they can do them all dat if they want)., but the real reason is all about money.
Gastroenterologist who own the endoscopy centers collect the facility fee. They often create an anesthesia corporation, hire an anesthesiologist, but make a huge income on this angle by billing the insurance company directly for the anesthesia, and paying the anesthesiologist a fraction of proceeds with a small salary. They do the same for taking biopsies, and sending them to pathology lab corporations they create and own. So, a gastroenterologist can now do one colonoscopy, and be paid for the procedure, paid for use of the facility, the anesthesia, and the pathology fee. That’s more money in 20 minutes than what most people make in a month. Incidentally, this is illegal. This way of doing business break “Stark laws”. It’s illegal to refer work to yourself. Sad to say, the law will jail you for a much minor crime, but this is known but no state has acted on making an example of medical fraud.

[GBeing-subr]

the procedures which give money to doctors come into market ..but which don't but yet helpful to people are simply removed saying it doesn't work

[kellyclover]

I refused the colonoscopy recommended by my general care doctor. She ordered a Cologaurd kit which found no evidence of cancer. Unless there is a strong indication of likely colon cancer I don't think the risks associated with colonoscopy should be taken.

[jimdailey]

No thanks. I'll keep my colon clean with colonics.

[gjop-xmxe]

Funny how they don't mention the risks of anesthia eather I had a like change in brain disorder after about a month from anesthia

[eliakimjosephsophia]

Plus the prep destroys your gut flora.

[adelamanzo]

I went to get a colonoscopy because I suffer from hemoroidis for years and after that got sick my stomach got bloated always sick went six times to er so much pain finally they found that I had diverticulitis why or how did I get this I am now terrified to even think about the place where I had this colonoscopy done do they clean ther equipment properly every 45 minutes a patient goes in if someone had it and tools not clean properly cloud I got it from them or that reason please help it's so sad now days all they care about is your card insurance and who next and next not about your well being I honestly recommend don't get it done be careful

[TheFirstManticore]

I've had a few colonoscopies and never been put to sleep. Just a minimal sedation. Last time, I didn't even have that. And it was so much fun! Yes there was some discomfort but I could feel the colonoscope inside my body going across the transverse colon and everything! I suppose this isn't for everybody. Now I have a guy who wants to put me under and says he can't do his job if he's worried about my discomfort. Now I'm scared. Has he even done this before? He didn't tell me any risks, only that it was very safe. I'm having second thoughts.

[MOAB-UT]

I don't believe this test lowers ALL CAUSE MORTALITY. I know this test itself can lead to chronic pain and also death for some otherwise very healthy, non-cancer people. It is a major money maker so they sell it very hard.

[omarbernal]

whoa ! seeing people in the comment section talking bout the risk of anesthesia. And how this special tool would burn and turn into a scalp . I'm having second thoughts about it. my colonoscopy check up is in a few days. But is there another method?

[vixyvelasquez]

Should I get a colonoscopy if I have blood in my stools ?