Welcome to New Choice Health where we help you make informed decisions about your medical procedures by giving you the tools you need to compare facilities in your area.
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Procedure | Price Range | |
---|---|---|
Colonoscopy Cost Average | $1,100 - $3,700 | Free Quote |
Facility | City | Type |
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Hudson Crossing Surgery Center | Fort Lee | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Passaic Beth Israel Regional Medical Center | Passaic | Acute Care Hospital |
Hunterdon Center for Surgery | Flemington | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Wyckoff Heights Medical Center | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
The Nguyen Center | Stony Brook | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Endoscopy Center of Ocean County | Toms River | GI Diagnostic Center |
Ambulatory Sugical Center of Union County | Union | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center | Secaucus | Acute Care Hospital |
Shore Outpatient Surgicenter | Lakewood | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Bronx-lebanon Hospital Center - Fulton Division | Bronx | Acute Care Hospital |
Nj Gastro and Endoscopy Ce | Wayne | GI Diagnostic Center |
Garden State Surgical Center | Fair Lawn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Newton Memorial Hospital | Newton | Acute Care Hospital |
Somerset Medical Center | Somerville | Acute Care Hospital |
Bey Lea Ambulatory Surgical Center | Toms River | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Manhattan East Endoscopy | New York | GI Diagnostic Center |
Manhattan Colorectal Surgical Unit | New York | GI Diagnostic Center |
Hanover Endoscopy Center | Whippany | GI Diagnostic Center |
Beth Israel Medical Center - Petrie Division | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Holy Name Hospital | Teaneck | Acute Care Hospital |
Eltra | West Orange | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Roseland Ambulatory Surgery Center | Roseland | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Endoscopy Center of Long Island | Garden City | GI Diagnostic Center |
Sdk Medical | Great Neck | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
New York Downtown Hospital | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Teaneck Gastroenterology | Teaneck | GI Diagnostic Center |
Southside Hospital | Bay Shore | Acute Care Hospital |
Clifton Surgery Center | Clifton | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Premier Endoscopy | Clifton | GI Diagnostic Center |
Hudson Terrace Medical | Englewood Cliffs | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Wayne Surgical Center | Wayne | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Richmond Ambulatory Services | Staten Island | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Good Samaritan Hospital | Suffern | Acute Care Hospital |
Northeast Surgical | Mount Kisco | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Surgicenter | Toms River | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint Barnabas Hospital | Bronx | Acute Care Hospital |
Columbus Hospital | Newark | Acute Care Hospital |
Hackensack Surgery Center | Hackensack | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Central Jersey Ambulatory Surgical Center | Hillsborough | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
May Street Surgi Center | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Beth Israel Amb Surg Cent Brooklyn Division | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Paramus Surgical Center | Paramus | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint Michael's Medical Center | Newark | Acute Care Hospital |
Florham Park Endoscopy Center | Florham Park | GI Diagnostic Center |
S S C and Z Endoscopy Center | Fort Lee | GI Diagnostic Center |
Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center | East Patchogue | Acute Care Hospital |
Endosurgical Center of Central Nj | East Brunswick | GI Diagnostic Center |
Endo-surgi Center of Old Bridge | Old Bridge | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Fifth Avenue Surgery Center | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ridgewood Ambulatory Surgery Center | Ridgewood | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Karpinski Ambulatory Surgery Unit | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Middlesex Surgery Center | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
East Orange General Hospital | East Orange | Acute Care Hospital |
Richmond Ambulatory Surgical Facility | Staten Island | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
White Plains Hospital Center | White Plains | Acute Care Hospital |
Southern Ocean County Hospital | Manahawkin | Acute Care Hospital |
Metropolitan Surgical Institute | South Amboy | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Central Jersey Surgery Center. | Eatontown | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Rockland Ambulatory Surgery | Pearl River | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Hackensack Endoscopy Center | Hackensack | GI Diagnostic Center |
Sound Shore Medical Center | New Rochelle | Acute Care Hospital |
North Fullerton Surgery Center | Montclair | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Northern Westchester Hospital | Mount Kisco | Acute Care Hospital |
The Gastro Surgical Center of Nj | Mountainside | GI Diagnostic Center |
Montefiore Medical Center - Moses Division Hospital | Bronx | Acute Care Hospital |
Surgical Center at Millburn | Millburn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Murray Hill Care | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint Mary's Hospital | Passaic | Acute Care Hospital |
Garden State Ambulatory Surgery Center | Toms River | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Elmhurst Hospital Center | Elmhurst | Acute Care Hospital |
The Mount Sinai Hospital | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
North Shore University Hospital | Manhasset | Acute Care Hospital |
County Line Endoscopy and Surgical Center | North Bergen | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Huntington Hospital | Huntington | Acute Care Hospital |
Bergen Regional Medical Center | Paramus | Acute Care Hospital |
Saint Peter's University Hospital | New Brunswick | Acute Care Hospital |
Advanced Surgical Arts Facility | Staten Island | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Hunterdon Medical Center | Flemington | Acute Care Hospital |
Hoboken University Medical Center | Hoboken | Acute Care Hospital |
Coney Island Hospital | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Greenville Hospital | Jersey City | Acute Care Hospital |
Synergy Medical | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Maimonides Medical Center | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Winthrop-university Hospital | Mineola | Acute Care Hospital |
Surgicare Ambulatory Surgery Center of Ny | Bronx | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Raritan Bay Medical Center - Perth Amboy | Perth Amboy | Acute Care Hospital |
Bayshore Community Hospital | Holmdel | Acute Care Hospital |
Prohealth Ambulatory Surgery Center | New Hyde Park | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Park Avenue Endoscopy | New York | GI Diagnostic Center |
University Hospital of Brooklyn | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Pilgrim Medical Center | Montclair | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Peconic Bay Medical Center | Riverhead | Acute Care Hospital |
Market Street Surgical Center | Saddle Brook | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Sheepshead Bay Endoscopy | Brooklyn | GI Diagnostic Center |
Affiliated Ambulatory Surgery | Morristown | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Fifth Avenue Medical Operatory | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
New York Methodist Hospital | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Metropolitan Surgery Center | Hackensack | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Atlantic Surgery Center | Long Branch | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
The Endoscopy Center of Red Bank | Red Bank | GI Diagnostic Center |
Lutheran Healthcare | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Brook Plaza Ambulatory Surg Ctr | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Centrastate Medical Center | Freehold | Acute Care Hospital |
Franklin Surgical Center | Basking Ridge | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Garden State Endoscopy and Surgery Center | Kenilworth | GI Diagnostic Center |
Saint Clare's Hospital - Sussex | Sussex | Acute Care Hospital |
Ambulatory Center of Excellence In Surgery | Bloomfield | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Mountainside Hospital | Montclair | Acute Care Hospital |
Bellevue Hospital Center | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Staten Island University Hospital - North Site | Staten Island | Acute Care Hospital |
Cares Ambulatory Surgery Services | New Brunswick | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Sheepshead Bay Surgery Center | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Kips Bay Endoscopy Center | New York | GI Diagnostic Center |
Brooklyn Endoscopy and Ambulatory Surgery Center | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
South Shore Ambulatory Surgery Center | Lynbrook | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint John's Episcopal Hospital South Shore | Far Rockaway | Acute Care Hospital |
Community Hospital at Dobbs Ferry | Dobbs Ferry | Acute Care Hospital |
Austin Medical Obs | Forest Hills | GI Diagnostic Center |
New Island Hospital | Bethpage | Acute Care Hospital |
Oak Tree Surgery Center | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
New York Community Hospital | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Montvale Surgical Center | Montvale | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Loewenstein Endoscopy Ofiices | Long Beach | GI Diagnostic Center |
Ambulatory Surgery Center | Livingston | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Surgicare of Englewood Cliffs | Englewood Cliffs | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
University Surgicenter | East Brunswick | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Franklin Hospital | Valley Stream | Acute Care Hospital |
Ambulatory Surgical Center of Old Bridge | Old Bridge | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Day-op Center of Long Island | Mineola | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
New York GICenter | Bronx | GI Diagnostic Center |
Ambulatory Surgery Center of Brooklyn | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Long Island Endoscopy Center | Setauket | GI Diagnostic Center |
Saddle River Valley Surgical Center | Paramus | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Fifth Avenue Surgery | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Bergen Gastroenterology | Emerson | GI Diagnostic Center |
North Shore Surgi-center | Smithtown | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Roxbury Open MRI and Surgical Center | Succasunna | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint Luke's-roosevelt Hospital Center - Saint Lukes | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Hillside Surgicare | Jamaica | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ramapo Valley Surgical Center | Ramsey | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Short Hills Surgery Center | Millburn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Progressive Surgery Center | Farmingdale | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Phelps Memorial Hospital Center | Sleepy Hollow | Acute Care Hospital |
Saint Francis Hospital | Roslyn | Acute Care Hospital |
American Surgical Center of West Orange | West Orange | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Glen Ridge Surgi Center | Glen Ridge | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Old Hook Medical Surgicenter | Emerson | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Kings County Hospital Center | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Plainview Hospital | Plainview | Acute Care Hospital |
Endo Surgical Center of North Jersey | Clifton | GI Diagnostic Center |
Flushing Hospital Medical Center | Flushing | Acute Care Hospital |
Endoscopic Ambulatory Specialty Center of Bay Ridge | Brooklyn | GI Diagnostic Center |
Advanced Endoscopy Center | Bronx | GI Diagnostic Center |
John T. Mather Memorial Hospital | Port Jefferson | Acute Care Hospital |
Hackensack University Medical Center | Hackensack | Acute Care Hospital |
Suburban Endoscopy Center | Verona | GI Diagnostic Center |
Kimball Medical Center | Lakewood | Acute Care Hospital |
Ocean Parkway Endoscopy Obs | Brooklyn | GI Diagnostic Center |
Blythedale Children's Hospital | Valhalla | Childrens Hospital |
Gold Ambulatory Surgery Center | Great Neck | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ambulatory Surgery Center of Greater New York | Bronx | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Mount Vernon Hospital | Mount Vernon | Acute Care Hospital |
Gastroenterology Diagnostics of Northern New Jersey | West Paterson | GI Diagnostic Center |
Saint John's Riverside Hospital - Andrus Pavilion | Yonkers | Acute Care Hospital |
South Nassau Communities Hospital | Oceanside | Acute Care Hospital |
A Center for Advanced Surgery | Paramus | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Manhattan Office Endoscopy | New York | GI Diagnostic Center |
Boulevard Surgical Center | Long Island City | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Physcian's Choice Surgicenter | Howard Beach | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Trinitas Hospital | Elizabeth | Acute Care Hospital |
Clara Maass Medical Center | Belleville | Acute Care Hospital |
Queens Hospital Center | Jamaica | Acute Care Hospital |
Lakewood Surgery Center | Lakewood | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Mercy Medical Center | Rockville Centre | Acute Care Hospital |
Summit Medical Group Ambulatory Surgery Center | Berkeley Heights | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
The Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Long Island Center for Digestive Health | Garden City | GI Diagnostic Center |
Northern Monmouth Regional Surgery Center | Manalapan | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Fort Washington Center | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Palisade Surgery Center | Fort Lee | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
New York Hospital Queens | Flushing | Acute Care Hospital |
Endoscopic Diagnostic and Treatment Center | Brooklyn | GI Diagnostic Center |
Union Hospital | Union | Acute Care Hospital |
Bergen Passaic Ambulatory Surgery Center | Clifton | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway | Rahway | Acute Care Hospital |
Gupta Rockaway Obs | Far Rockaway | GI Diagnostic Center |
Saint Joseph's Wayne Hospital | Wayne | Acute Care Hospital |
North Jersey Surgery Center | Englewood Cliffs | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Park Avenue Ambulatory Surgery | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Surgery Center of Somerset | Somerset | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Seashore Surgical Institute | Brick | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Atrium Surgery Center | Mine Hill | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ocean Surgical Pavilion | Oakhurst | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Center for Special Surgery | Wall Township | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ksc Or Services | Huntington | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Gregory Surgical Services | Jersey City | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
The Ambulatory Surgery Center of Westchester | Mt Kisco | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Maj Surgery | Rye | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Surgical Center at Cedar Knolls | Cedar Knolls | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center | West Islip | Acute Care Hospital |
Ridgedale Surgery Center | Cedar Knolls | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Monmouth Surgi Center | Red Bank | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint Clare's Hospital - Denville | Denville | Acute Care Hospital |
Harlem Hospital Center | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Westchester Medical Center | Valhalla | Acute Care Hospital |
Morristown Memorial Hospital | Morristown | Acute Care Hospital |
Ap Surgery Center | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ambulatory Center for Endoscopy | North Bergen | GI Diagnostic Center |
Ironbound Endosurgical Center | Newark | GI Diagnostic Center |
Saint Charles Hospital | Port Jefferson | Acute Care Hospital |
Putnam Hospital Center | Carmel | Acute Care Hospital |
Northfield Surgical Center | West Orange | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
All City Family Health Care | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Queens Surgi-center | Glendale | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Moshenyat's Gastroenterology O.b.s. | Brooklyn | GI Diagnostic Center |
James Street Surgical Suite | Morristown | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Garden City Plaza Office Based Surgery | Garden City | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
2116 Kings Highway GI | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Endo Surgi Center | Union | GI Diagnostic Center |
North Jersey Ambulatory Surgery Center | Hackensack | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint James Hospital | Newark | Acute Care Hospital |
Andrew Jacono Center | Great Neck | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Endoscopy Obs at Hmg | Huntington Station | GI Diagnostic Center |
The Brooklyn Hospital Center | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Hudson Valley Hospital Center | Cortlandt Manor | Acute Care Hospital |
Meadowbrook Endoscopy Center | Westbury | GI Diagnostic Center |
Bayonne Medical Center | Bayonne | Acute Care Hospital |
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital | New Brunswick | Acute Care Hospital |
The Valley Hospital | Ridgewood | Acute Care Hospital |
Upper East Side Surgical | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ambulatory Surgical Center of New Jersey | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center | Jamaica | Acute Care Hospital |
Forest Hills Hospital | Forest Hills | Acute Care Hospital |
Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center | Paterson | Acute Care Hospital |
Essex Endoscopy Center of Nj | Newark | GI Diagnostic Center |
Center for Special Procedures | Lakewood | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Lawrence Hospital Center | Bronxville | Acute Care Hospital |
Usdk Medical | Rockville Centre | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Suffolk Surgery Center | Shirley | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Essex Surgical Arts Surgery Center | Belleville | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Eastern Long Island Hospital | Greenport | Acute Care Hospital |
Lenox Hill Hospital | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Surgicare of Oradell | Oradell | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Stoneleigh Medical Endoscopy Obs | Carmel | GI Diagnostic Center |
Rockefeller University Hospital | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center | Bronx | Acute Care Hospital |
Ocean Endosurgery Center | Toms River | GI Diagnostic Center |
Palisades Medical Center | North Bergen | Acute Care Hospital |
Center for Surgical Specialties | Rutherford | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
NYU Langone Medical Center | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Westchester Ambulatory Surgery Center | White Plains | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
New York Westchester Square Medical Center | Bronx | Acute Care Hospital |
Saint Joseph's Medical Center | Yonkers | Acute Care Hospital |
Somerset Surgical Center | Bridgewater | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Riverview Medical Center | Red Bank | Acute Care Hospital |
Digestive Health Center of Huntington | Huntington | GI Diagnostic Center |
Advanced Surgical Arts Center | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Weissman Endoscopy Obs | Brooklyn | GI Diagnostic Center |
North Jersey Center for Surgery | Newton | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
The Center for Ambulatory Surgery | Mountainside | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
60 East End Office Endoscopy | New York | GI Diagnostic Center |
Day Op of North Nassau | Great Neck | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center | Newark | Acute Care Hospital |
Edison Surgical Center | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Jersey City Medical Center | Jersey City | Acute Care Hospital |
Nyack Hospital | Nyack | Acute Care Hospital |
Parkmed | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Advanced Endoscopy and Surgical Center | Eatontown | GI Diagnostic Center |
Stony Brook University Medical Center | Stony Brook | Acute Care Hospital |
Ambulatory Surgery Center of East Tremont Medical Center | Bronx | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Essex Surgery Center | Hackensack | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Unite Health Center | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
University Hospital | Newark | Acute Care Hospital |
Morristown Surgical Ctr. @ Madison Ave. | Morristown | GI Diagnostic Center |
The Reed Center | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Prospect Street Obs | Huntington | GI Diagnostic Center |
Gramercy Surgery Center | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Christ Hospital | Jersey City | Acute Care Hospital |
Long Island Jewish Medical Center | New Hyde Park | Acute Care Hospital |
Glen Cove Hospital | Glen Cove | Acute Care Hospital |
Saint Mary's Ambulatory Surgery Center | Palisades Park | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint Barnabas Medical Center | Livingston | Acute Care Hospital |
Jersey Shore University Medical Center | Neptune | Acute Care Hospital |
Jfk Medical Center | Edison | Acute Care Hospital |
Jelksmedical | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Mediplex Surgery Center | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Chilton Memorial Hospital | Pompton Plains | Acute Care Hospital |
Southampton Hospital | Southampton | Acute Care Hospital |
New York-presbyterian Hospital/weill Cornell Medical | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Pascack Valley Hospital | Westwood | Acute Care Hospital |
Somerset Ambulatory Surgical Center | Somerville | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Manalapan Surgery Center | Manalapan | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ocean Medical Center | Brick | Acute Care Hospital |
Synergy First Medical | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Sea Oaks Surgery Center | Little Egg Harbor | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Nassau University Medical Center | East Meadow | Acute Care Hospital |
Metropolitan Hospital Center | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Linden Surgical Center | Linden | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Monmouth Medical Center | Long Branch | Acute Care Hospital |
Bergen Ambulatory Surgery Center | Saddle Brook | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Memorial Sloan-kettering Cancer Center | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Vijay Arya Gastroenterology | Middle Village | GI Diagnostic Center |
North Central Bronx Hospital | Bronx | Acute Care Hospital |
Toms River Surgery Center | Toms River | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Endoscopy Center of Bergen County | Paramus | GI Diagnostic Center |
Community Medical Center | Toms River | Acute Care Hospital |
Children's Specialized Hospital Mountainside | Mountainside | Childrens Hospital |
Long Island College Hospital | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Stonybrook Surigcal Assoicates | Stonybrook | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Jacobi Medical Center | Bronx | Acute Care Hospital |
Melville Surgery Center | Melville | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Shrewsbury Surgery Center | Shrewsbury | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Interfaith Medical Center | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
St. Vincent's Staten Island Surgery Services | Staten Island | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Overlook Hospital | Summit | Acute Care Hospital |
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center | Englewood | Acute Care Hospital |
Accredited Endoscopy Services Obs | New Hyde Park | GI Diagnostic Center |
Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Colonoscopy Introduction
A colonoscopy is a procedure which allows a doctor to view inside the large intestine (colon) using a tool called a colonoscope. A key advantage of the procedure is that, when needed, other instruments can be passed through the colonoscope. These may be used, for example, to painlessly remove a suspicious-looking growth or to biopsy, that is, take a small piece of tissue for further analysis. Although colonoscopy is the best test available to detect and treat abnormalities within the colon, other alternative procedures are abdominal x-ray, computed tomography (CT scan), abdominal ultrasound, barium enema, sigmoidoscopy and, more recently, an alternative is a Virtual colonoscopy. These exams, however, do not allow direct viewing of the colon, removal of polyps, or the completion of biopsies, so, if an abnormality is found during one of these procedures, a colonoscopy may still be required to biopsy or remove the abnormality.
Patient Preparation For A Colonoscopy
You will be given instructions in advance that will outline what you should and should not do in preparation for colonoscopy. Central to these instructions is the need to cleanse the intestinal tract, modify diet and manage medications; be sure to read and follow those instructions. It is particularly important to inform the physician of all medications or vitamins taken regularly or if you are pregnant (or think you might be pregnant) or if you have heart, lung or other medical conditions that may need special attention, and, finally, if you have a history of bleeding disorders or if you are taking any anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medications, aspirin, or other medications that affect blood clotting. Arrangements should be made for transportation after the surgery is complete.
What to expect during and after a Colonoscopy
The procedure takes about 30 minutes to perform and is seldom remembered by the sedated patient. The sedative and pain medication usually cause most patients to dose off during the procedure. An intravenous line is inserted into the arm to administer a sedative and a painkiller. Also, your heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen level will be monitored during the procedure. Once you are fully relaxed, you will be asked to lie on your left side with your knees bent towards your chest. Your doctor will first do a rectal exam with a gloved, lubricated finger; then the lubricated colonoscope will be gently inserted into the anus and gently advanced into the rectum and colon. As the scope is slowly and carefully passed, you may feel as if you need to move your bowels, and because air is introduced to help advance the scope, you may feel some cramping or fullness. Generally, however, there is little or no discomfort. The physician will examine the colon. If a polyp is seen, it may be removed, biopsied, or left alone until a subsequent operation is performed.
After the procedure is competed you will be taken to the recovery area and monitored until the medication has worn off. After recovery, the physician will explain the results to you, provide instructions on care and diet and then your driver will be allowed to take you home. It is normal to experience mild cramping or abdominal pressure following the exam. This usually subsides in an hour or so, after the air has been expelled. Notify your physician to report any of the following: fever and/or chills, frequent bloody stools, abdominal pain and/or bloating, inability to pass gas.
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