Sigmoidoscopy

• Rectum
• Sigmoid Colon

• This is an internal examination of the sigmoid portion of the colon
• It is performed using an instrument called a colonoscope
• The colonoscope has a small camera attached to a flexible tube
• It may provide a visual diagnosis
• Biopsies may be taken

• Various therapeutic maneuvers can be performed
• Benign or precancerous polyps may be removed

• A procedure location will be suggested based on your insurance & geographic area
• Please refer to the locations page on our website

• Do not plan to drive after your procedure
• You must have someone 18 years old or above to drive you home
• NO Uber | Lyft | Cab

The pre-assessment testing team will discuss the following:

• Clearance if necessary
• Medical History
• Medications
• Pre-anesthesia questionnaire
• Surgical history

• Hospital, anesthesia & pathology fees are independent from GastroDoxs
• The other fees not related to GastroDoxs are to be discussed directly with the other providers, hospital or surgery center
• If you have not heard from the financial representative 24 hours before your procedure, call them at that time

• You may need a clearance if you have high risk conditions requiring clearance
• You may need a follow-up with your Doctor or Provider before they can issue a clearance
• Our team will send your Doctor or Provider a clearance request from our office
• Once our team has your clearance on file, we will call you to schedule your procedure
• You may need a clearance if you are on blood thinners or these medications
  • Apixaban | Eliquis
  • Clopidogrel | Plavix
  • Dabigatran | Pradaxa
  • Edoxaban | Savaysa
  • Prasugrel | Effient
  • Rivaroxaban | Xarelto
  • Ticagrelor | Brilinta
  • Warfarin | Coumadin & Jantoven

• Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
• Exenatide (Byetta)
• Exenatide Extended Release (Bydureon BCise)
• Liraglutide (Victoza)
• Lixisenatide (Adlyxin)
• Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus)
• Tirzepatide (Mounjaro)

• Hold > Anti-Diarrheal Medication - Imodium, Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol
• Hold > Iron Tablets
• Hold > Multivitamins

• Hold > Oral Diabetes Medication
• Insulin > Take ½ the dose

• Blood Pressure Medication > as instructed by the pre-assessment team
• Insulin > Hold
• Others > Hold

• Continue to take your medications unless specified below
• Blood thinners will require a clearance on file before scheduling
• The pre-assessment team (PAT) will review your medications & may make other recommendations also

No Nuts or Seeds - berries, cashews, corn nuts, peanuts, pecans, popcorn, walnuts

Low Fiber Diet

• Foods - white bread, cheese, eggs, yogurt
• Soups - clear vegetable, chicken or beef broth
• Vegetables - cooked without skin like mashed potatoes
• Fruits - pureed fruits without skin like applesauce

• Clear Liquid Diet
• Soups - clear vegetable, chicken or beef broth
• Juices - clear only without pulp
• Stop - All food after 12am [midnight]

• Drink plenty of water
• No alcohol
• No red or purple colored drinks
• Stop - All liquids after 12am [midnight]

• No - food or liquids on the procedure day
• Blood Pressure Medication > as instructed by the pre-assessment team
• Insulin > Hold
• Others > Hold

All Preparations

• Clenpiq
• Colyte
• Gavilyte C|G|N
• Golytely
• Magnesium Citrate
• Moviprep
• Nulytely
• PEG 3350
• Plenvu
• Suflav
• Suprep
• Sutab

• Please ensure you arrive 1-1.5 hours before your procedure
• You will check in at registration when you arrive

• The clinical team will go through the clinical assessment as well as risks & benefits of the procedure
• The anesthesia team will explain all aspects before the procedure
• Consent forms the procedure will need to be signed

• An intravenous line will be inserted into your arm to administer medication
• You will be given intravenous sedation medication during the procedure

• After sedation, the colonoscope is inserted through the anus & gently advanced to visualize the sigmoid portion of the colon
• Since better views are obtained during withdrawal than during insertion, a more careful examination is done during withdrawal of the scope

• It will take approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour to recover from the anesthesia
• The clinical team will observe for any symptoms or signs of abdominal pain, vomiting, dizziness, blood pressure issues, heart rate issue, fever
• If you are doing well & have woken up from the anesthesia you will likely be discharged to go home 1 hour after the procedure

• If any diagnostic tissue samples or biopsies are required it can be obtained through the endoscope during the procedure
• Biopsies may be taken

• If intervention is required, it will be done during the procedure
• Polyps may be removed with electrocautery snares, & photographs may be taken

• Biopsies are tissue samples that are reviewed by a Pathologist under the microscope
• The Pathologist will determine the nature of the tissue samples
• The Pathologist will send the reports to our office

• Our providers will review the report in detail
• The findings will be reviewed with you in detail upon follow-up

• You will be under observation for 30 minutes to monitor for any symptoms
• You will be awake within 30 minutes but may still be groggy for 12-24 hours
• Do not plan to drive the remainder of the day after your procedure

• Do not plan to drive after your procedure
• You must have someone 18 years old or above to drive you home
• No Uber | Lyft | Cab

Normal post procedure symptoms:

• Bloating
• Gas
• Slight abdominal pain
• Some diarrhea
• Weakness

Abnormal post procedure symptoms:

• Bleeding
• Excessive vomiting
• Fever >100
• Severe abdominal pain
• Any other severe or unusual symptoms
• Please call 911 & go to the nearest emergency room

• Your results will be discussed in detail
• Treatment recommendations will be given