Sigmoidoscopy Preparation and FAQs
Patients with kidney or heart disease, or who are age 75 and older, shouldn’t use these instructions.
Preparation When What You Need to Do Few days before your procedure Purchase these over-the-counter products: Do NOT buy the Fleet enema that • 2 ready-to-use Fleet enemas that contain sodium contains mineral oil. phosphates • 1 bottle (10 ounce) of magnesium citrate 2 days before your procedure Daytime Eat normally during the day, and avoid high-fiber foods. Avoid drinks that are colored purple, red, or orange. 5 p.m. Eat a small dinner. This will be your last solid food before the procedure. 1 day before your procedure Daytime Start drinking only clear liquids when you wake up. Don’t drink coffee or alcohol. See list of Drink 8 ounces of clear liquid every hour while you’re clear liquids on the next page. awake today. 5 p.m. Drink the entire 10-ounce bottle of magnesium citrate. You may have several loose bowel movements. This is normal. Day of your procedure Morning Continue to drink only clear liquids such as broth, Take your usual medications with water clear juices, Jello, or water. unless otherwise instructed. 2 hours before Use the first of the 2 enemas. Follow the instructions Please disregard the statement on your appointment on the box. Take the enema. Hold it as long as you the box to only take one enema. We can, then expel it. recommend 2 enemas for the best Use the second enema 10 minutes after expelling the results. first enema. Hold it as long as you can, then expel it. Do NOT drink or eat anything in the 2 hours between starting the enemas and your sigmoidoscopy procedure. FAQs
Why do a sigmoidoscopy? What are the benefits? A sigmoidoscopy: Having a sigmoidoscopy: • Allows the doctor or endoscopy nurse to examine • Reduces the risk of colorectal cancer by removing the lining of the rectum and lower colon with a polyps (growths in the colon that may become small camera attached to a flexible tube. cancerous). • Screens for colon cancer and precancerous colon • Detects cancer at an early stage when it is more polyps. easily treated. • Helps identify diseases or other problems that may • Identifies disease or other problems that may be be causing lower gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. causing lower GI symptoms.
What happens during the What are the risks? sigmoidoscopy? The risks are very low but may include: During the exam, we: • Bleeding or puncture (perforation) of the colon that may require surgery to repair. This happens in only • Insert a flexible videoscope (slender tube with 1 out of 10,000 exams. a small camera at the end) into your anus. The doctor will gradually move the scope forward into • Missing an important finding. This happens less your lower bowel. The picture from the scope will than 5 percent of the time. appear on a video screen. • Inflate the bowel with air. You may feel some pressure from the air. It might feel as if you have to have a bowel movement. This is normal. Bloating or cramping might occur during the exam. This will go away once the scope is removed. You will be able to pass the air out of the colon after the exam.
How long is the exam and when will I get the results? The exam takes about 5 to 10 minutes. You’ll be given the results immediately after the exam. We may perform a biopsy or remove small polyps (growths) found during the procedure. If we performed a biopsy, results are usually available in 7 to 14 days.
HEALTH EDUCATION This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult your doctor. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only. Some photos may include models and not actual patients. © 2017, The Permanente Medical Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Regional Health Education. 05328-006 (Revised 09/19) RL 6.8