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What is a Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure in which the inside of the large intestine (colon and rectum) is examined. A colonoscopy enables the physician to see abnormalities like inflamed tissue, polyps, ulcers, bleeding and diverticulosis.
The procedure is commonly used to screen for colon cancer.
What happens during a colonoscopy?
During a colonoscopy, a physician uses a colonoscope (a long, flexible instrument about one-half inch in diameter) to view the lining of the colon. The colonoscope is inserted through the rectum and advanced through the large intestine. If necessary, during a colonoscopy, small amounts of tissue can be removed for analysis (called a biopsy) and polyps can be identified and removed. In many cases, colonoscopy allows accurate diagnosis and treatment without the need for a major operation.
Why Should I Get One?
In nearly all cases, colon cancer starts as a precancerous growth in the colon called an adenomatous polyp, which usually doesn’t cause symptoms. This is why it’s important to have regular screenings. A colonoscopy detects polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer and cause symptoms.
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer among men and women in the United States. But, the good news is, according to the National Cancer Institute, deaths from colon cancer are declining due to increased use of screening.
Who is it for?
The American College of Gastroenterology recommends colon cancer screenings begin at age 45.
Some people should begin screening earlier if they have any of the following, which could increase their colon cancer risk:
- Personal history of colon cancer or precancerous colon polyps, called adenomas
- History of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s colitis or ulcerative colitis)
- Numerous relatives with colon cancer or adenomatous polyps
- Family history of familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer
What are the Benefits?
The main benefit of a colonoscopy is that it detects and removes polyps before they can turn into cancer. Colonoscopies also can find colorectal cancer early. If cancer is detected and found early, 90 percent of these cases are curable.
About the Preparation
To complete a successful colonoscopy, the bowel must be clean so that the physician can clearly view the colon.
Drinking a bowel preparation is one of the leading deterrents to having a colonoscopy. Fortunately, today’s bowel prep is simpler than ever before as patients can now choose half-gallon options or split doses, where half the prep is taken the night before and the other half the morning of the procedure. Without proper preparation, the colonoscopy will not be successful and may have to be repeated.
Can It Be Too Painful – Or Even Risky?
About 99 percent of patients should be able to be adequately sedated through conscious sedation or twilight sleep to be comfortable during their colonoscopy. Most patients don’t even remember the exam! Cleveland Clinic also offers monitored anesthesia care for patients who require deeper sedation.
When performed by specially trained professionals, colonoscopies are safe. The risk of perforation is less than 1 in 1,000 cases, and the risk of bleeding is less than 1 percent.
Appointments & Locations
To learn more about how to schedule your colonoscopy at a Cleveland Clinic in Florida location, please visit clevelandclinic.org/colonoscopy or choose from the options below:
- Patients in Weston and Coral Springs: Please call 877.463.2010 or request an appointment online.
- Patients in Indian River County: Please call 877.463.2010 or request an appointment online.
- Patients in Martin and St. Lucie County: Please call 772.283.9111 ext. 10010 or request an appointment online.
Want to schedule your colonoscopy in Florida without an office visit?
If you’re a Cleveland Clinic in Florida patient, you may be eligible to self-schedule your colonoscopy without an initial office visit. This option is available for healthy people, ages 45 and older with an average risk of colon cancer.
MyConsult® Online Medical Second Opinion
MyConsult Online Second Opinion program connects patients to the expertise of top Cleveland Clinic specialists without the time and expense of travel. Through our secure web platform, patients can submit their detailed health information, medical records and diagnostic test results. The most appropriate Cleveland Clinic expert is assigned to the consultation and will render a detailed second opinion. The report includes commentary about the diagnosis and treatment options or alternatives and recommendations regarding future therapeutic considerations. Patients are also able to send additional questions to the physician who provided the report. Online medical second opinions are available for more than 1,200 medical diagnoses.
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Why Choose Us?
Cleveland Clinic in Florida's Digestive Disease & Surgery Institute unites a number of specialty areas including the departments of gastroenterology, colorectal surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, breast surgery and bariatric and minimally invasive surgery. The board-certified gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons at Cleveland Clinic in Florida are highly experienced in colonoscopy diagnostics, performing more than 6,000 colonoscopies per year. Our globally renowned physicians, positioned across southeast Florida, specialize in both routine and complex digestive conditions, from functional disorders like fecal incontinence to colon and rectal cancers and inflammatory bowel disease. Our Institute’s goal is to provide comprehensive, innovative, state-of-the-art, compassionate and effective care to improve quality of life for our patients.
In addition to the use of innovative procedures, diagnostic tools and treatments, such as endoscopic ultrasound, ablative techniques for Barrett’s esophagus and Spyglass technology, we have the largest small bowel enteroscopy program in South Florida and one of the largest in the state.
Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital is home to a nationally ranked Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal surgery program. Cleveland Clinic facilities across Florida, including Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Martin Health and Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, have earned a number of awards and accreditations relating to the digestive health care we provide, such as the designation of “High Performing Hospitals” in colon cancer surgery by the U.S. News and World Report 2022-23. Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital is also the first hospital in Florida, and second in the nation, to earn accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) administered by the American College of Surgeons.
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