Colonoscopy Los Angeles

Early detection of any illness or disorder is perhaps the most essential aspect of treating it. This is the goal of a colonoscopy. It seeks to detect changes in your large intestine, informing you and your physician of any action you need to take.

What Is a Colonoscopy About?

During a colonoscopy, your physician uses a small device with a camera to examine your colon and rectal area. With incredible accuracy, it allows for effective screening of colon cancer and other ailments.

We recommend that most patients receive a routine colonoscopy every 5-10 to screen for any abnormalities. For patients who could be more at risk, we advise more frequent screenings.

What Does It Detect?

• Polyps – Extra tissues that grow inside the body
• Cancer – Severe but can be preventable if detected early
• Colitis – Inflammation of the colon
• Diverticulosis – Pockets that form on the inner wall of the intestine
• Bleeding lesions – Bleeding that happens from different parts in the colon

Colonoscopy Procedure Overview

During this procedure, a long, flexible tube (colonoscope) is inserted into the rectum. A tiny video camera at the tip of it allows Dr. Tabib to view the inside of the entire colon. He exams from the rectum up through the lower end of the small intestine, looking for any signs of cancer or other changes.

The Process

For our colonoscopy procedure in Los Angeles, you will lie on your left side on the exam table. Pain medication and a mild sedative are administered to keep you comfortable and relaxed throughout the exam. Dr. Tabib then inserts a flexible, lighted tube into your rectum and slowly guides it into your colon.

For some abnormalities, Dr. Tabib can remove all or part of them right away. Tiny instruments pass through the scope to aid in these removals. He can use it to take a biopsy or tissue sample for further lab testing. If any bleeding is present, the unique instruments of the scope can stop it.

The procedure usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Afterward, you will remain at the facility until the anesthesia wears off.

Signs That It’s Time For A Colonoscopy

Reaching 50 years of age is the general starting point for colonoscopy screenings. However, some other factors might mean you should get a colonoscopy before you reach this age.

You Have Adenomas

These are are grape-sized polyps in the colon. Though usually harmless, they still need heavy monitoring after they’re discovered. If you do have adenomas, you should repeat the process every five years.

You Have Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This can put you at an increased risk for cancer and other harmful diseases.

Family History

Genetics play a large role in the health of your colon. If you have blood relatives with colon cancer or disease, you could be more at risk.

But if the doctor hasn’t found anything, a procedure isn’t necessary for ten years.

Colonoscopy Results

After your exam, Dr. Tabib will review the results thoroughly. He will explain the findings and discuss further options or recommendations when necessary. Final results are available in a few days if a biopsy or polyp removal was performed. You will need to do a follow-up call or schedule another office visit to go over these results in more detail.

Negative Result

If you receive a negative result, it means the doctor did not find abnormalities in the colon. If anything prevented accurate visualization, Dr. Tabib might recommend a repeat exam to provide definite results.

Positive Result

If the exam had a positive result, it means polyps or abnormal tissue were present inside the colon. This may or may not be serious as most polyps are not cancerous or are found while they are precancerous. For this reason, any polyps found are removed.

Following removal, they’re sent to a laboratory for further analysis. The laboratory analysis helps determine what stage they are at. Depending on the results, we’ll advise you on follow-up screenings.

How Do I Prepare for a Colonoscopy

Preparing correctly helps your colonoscopy to be safe and effective. A key factor is that your color must be empty. Colonoscopy preparation requires you to follow a liquid diet on the day before your exam. Acceptable foods include the following:

• Water
• Fat-free bouillon or broth
• Strained fruit juice
• Plain coffee or tea
• Diet soda
• Gelatin or Popsicles in any color but red.
• You will also take a laxative the night before the procedure.

Be sure to inform Dr. Tabib of any medical conditions or current medications before your colonoscopy.

Complete and Regular Screenings

In addition to getting a colonoscopy every 5-10 years, we recommend having other tests. Together, these screenings can effectively detect any colon abnormalities early on.

• Sigmoidoscopy once every five years
• CT colonography once every five years
• Double-contrast barium enema once every five years
• Stool test once every three years
• FIT test once every year

If your test results are positive, Dr. Tabib will work with you to establish a treatment plan that successfully removes and prevents cancer.