Starship Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology

This is a procedure which allows the doctor to see inside your child's large bowel and examine the surface directly and take biopsies (samples of tissue) if needed.  Treatment of conditions can also be undertaken.

 

What to expect

Your child will have a general anaesthetic (be completely asleep) for the procedure.  The colonoscope is a flexible plastic-coated tube a little thicker than a ballpoint pen which has a tiny camera attached that sends images to a viewing screen. Once your child is asleep the colonoscope is passed into the rectum (bottom) and gently moved through the large bowel.  This is not a painful procedure. The colonoscopy will be performed as a day case procedure so your child will go home the same day.  The procedure takes between 20 minutes and 1 hour, but your child will be away from you for around 1 to 1½ hours to allow them to recover from anaesthetic.

 

Risks of a colonoscopy are rare but include:-

 

Before the procedure

Your child will need to follow a special diet and take some laxatives (medicine to make them go to the toilet) over the days leading up to the test.

 

After the procedure

Your child will stay in the Day Stay Unit until they are ready to go home.  If biopsies are taken these will be sent for analysis and results will be available within 2-3 weeks.  A report and copies of these will be sent to the doctor who referred your child.  We do not telephone results.