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 |
The Gastro Surgical Center of Nj | Mountainside | GI Diagnostic Center |
Synergy Medical | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Interfaith Medical Center | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Greenville Hospital | Jersey City | Acute Care Hospital |
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center | West Islip | Acute Care Hospital |
Day Op of North Nassau | Great Neck | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Garden State Surgical Center | Fair Lawn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
The Brooklyn Hospital Center | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Center for Special Surgery | Wall Township | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Bergen Ambulatory Surgery Center | Saddle Brook | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Maimonides Medical Center | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Hudson Terrace Medical | Englewood Cliffs | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Gastroenterology Diagnostics of Northern New Jersey | West Paterson | GI Diagnostic Center |
Advanced Surgical Arts Facility | Staten Island | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Hackensack Surgery Center | Hackensack | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Long Island Endoscopy Center | Setauket | GI Diagnostic Center |
North Shore Surgi-center | Smithtown | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Lutheran Healthcare | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Mediplex Surgery Center | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Nj Gastro and Endoscopy Ce | Wayne | GI Diagnostic Center |
Putnam Hospital Center | Carmel | Acute Care Hospital |
Jersey Shore University Medical Center | Neptune | Acute Care Hospital |
New Island Hospital | Bethpage | Acute Care Hospital |
Short Hills Surgery Center | Millburn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
John T. Mather Memorial Hospital | Port Jefferson | Acute Care Hospital |
Market Street Surgical Center | Saddle Brook | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Manhattan East Endoscopy | New York | GI Diagnostic Center |
Seashore Surgical Institute | Brick | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint John's Episcopal Hospital South Shore | Far Rockaway | Acute Care Hospital |
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center | Jamaica | Acute Care Hospital |
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center | Englewood | Acute Care Hospital |
Ambulatory Surgery Center of Brooklyn | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Franklin Hospital | Valley Stream | Acute Care Hospital |
American Surgical Center of West Orange | West Orange | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saddle River Valley Surgical Center | Paramus | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Gold Ambulatory Surgery Center | Great Neck | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
East Orange General Hospital | East Orange | Acute Care Hospital |
Sound Shore Medical Center | New Rochelle | Acute Care Hospital |
Cares Ambulatory Surgery Services | New Brunswick | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Harlem Hospital Center | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Richmond Ambulatory Services | Staten Island | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Rockefeller University Hospital | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Vijay Arya Gastroenterology | Middle Village | GI Diagnostic Center |
Mount Vernon Hospital | Mount Vernon | Acute Care Hospital |
Chilton Memorial Hospital | Pompton Plains | Acute Care Hospital |
Union Hospital | Union | Acute Care Hospital |
The Valley Hospital | Ridgewood | Acute Care Hospital |
Saint Francis Hospital | Roslyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Advanced Surgical Arts Center | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Clara Maass Medical Center | Belleville | Acute Care Hospital |
Garden City Plaza Office Based Surgery | Garden City | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Synergy First Medical | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Brooklyn Endoscopy and Ambulatory Surgery Center | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ksc Or Services | Huntington | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Plainview Hospital | Plainview | Acute Care Hospital |
Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center | Bronx | Acute Care Hospital |
Bellevue Hospital Center | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Jelksmedical | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Newton Memorial Hospital | Newton | Acute Care Hospital |
Ocean Medical Center | Brick | Acute Care Hospital |
Sea Oaks Surgery Center | Little Egg Harbor | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Morristown Memorial Hospital | Morristown | Acute Care Hospital |
Eltra | West Orange | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
The Reed Center | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
North Fullerton Surgery Center | Montclair | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Endo Surgi Center | Union | GI Diagnostic Center |
Bayonne Medical Center | Bayonne | Acute Care Hospital |
NYU Langone Medical Center | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center | East Patchogue | Acute Care Hospital |
Jfk Medical Center | Edison | Acute Care Hospital |
Eastern Long Island Hospital | Greenport | Acute Care Hospital |
Andrew Jacono Center | Great Neck | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Beth Israel Amb Surg Cent Brooklyn Division | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Somerset Ambulatory Surgical Center | Somerville | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
University Hospital | Newark | Acute Care Hospital |
Stony Brook University Medical Center | Stony Brook | Acute Care Hospital |
Surgical Center at Millburn | Millburn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ridgedale Surgery Center | Cedar Knolls | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
South Nassau Communities Hospital | Oceanside | Acute Care Hospital |
Saint Joseph's Wayne Hospital | Wayne | Acute Care Hospital |
Mountainside Hospital | Montclair | Acute Care Hospital |
Clifton Surgery Center | Clifton | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Morristown Surgical Ctr. @ Madison Ave. | Morristown | GI Diagnostic Center |
Brook Plaza Ambulatory Surg Ctr | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Bergen Passaic Ambulatory Surgery Center | Clifton | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Suburban Endoscopy Center | Verona | GI Diagnostic Center |
Physcian's Choice Surgicenter | Howard Beach | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Park Avenue Endoscopy | New York | GI Diagnostic Center |
New York Downtown Hospital | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
North Jersey Surgery Center | Englewood Cliffs | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Murray Hill Care | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Accredited Endoscopy Services Obs | New Hyde Park | GI Diagnostic Center |
Melville Surgery Center | Melville | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Community Hospital at Dobbs Ferry | Dobbs Ferry | Acute Care Hospital |
Northern Westchester Hospital | Mount Kisco | Acute Care Hospital |
Summit Medical Group Ambulatory Surgery Center | Berkeley Heights | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
New York Hospital Queens | Flushing | Acute Care Hospital |
Trinitas Hospital | Elizabeth | Acute Care Hospital |
Atrium Surgery Center | Mine Hill | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
The Ambulatory Surgery Center of Westchester | Mt Kisco | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Somerset Surgical Center | Bridgewater | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Pascack Valley Hospital | Westwood | Acute Care Hospital |
Endosurgical Center of Central Nj | East Brunswick | GI Diagnostic Center |
Raritan Bay Medical Center - Perth Amboy | Perth Amboy | Acute Care Hospital |
Center for Special Procedures | Lakewood | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Riverview Medical Center | Red Bank | Acute Care Hospital |
Ambulatory Surgical Center of New Jersey | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Memorial Sloan-kettering Cancer Center | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Fifth Avenue Surgery Center | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Phelps Memorial Hospital Center | Sleepy Hollow | Acute Care Hospital |
Huntington Hospital | Huntington | Acute Care Hospital |
Endoscopy Center of Ocean County | Toms River | GI Diagnostic Center |
Peconic Bay Medical Center | Riverhead | Acute Care Hospital |
Central Jersey Surgery Center. | Eatontown | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
The Mount Sinai Hospital | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Stoneleigh Medical Endoscopy Obs | Carmel | GI Diagnostic Center |
The Nguyen Center | Stony Brook | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint Mary's Ambulatory Surgery Center | Palisades Park | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ocean Surgical Pavilion | Oakhurst | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Hunterdon Medical Center | Flemington | Acute Care Hospital |
The Center for Ambulatory Surgery | Mountainside | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint Joseph's Medical Center | Yonkers | Acute Care Hospital |
Stonybrook Surigcal Assoicates | Stonybrook | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Fifth Avenue Surgery | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
All City Family Health Care | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Glen Cove Hospital | Glen Cove | Acute Care Hospital |
Saint Barnabas Hospital | Bronx | Acute Care Hospital |
Somerset Medical Center | Somerville | Acute Care Hospital |
Endoscopy Center of Bergen County | Paramus | GI Diagnostic Center |
Austin Medical Obs | Forest Hills | GI Diagnostic Center |
Essex Surgery Center | Hackensack | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Wyckoff Heights Medical Center | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Fifth Avenue Medical Operatory | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Meadowbrook Endoscopy Center | Westbury | GI Diagnostic Center |
Community Medical Center | Toms River | Acute Care Hospital |
Monmouth Medical Center | Long Branch | Acute Care Hospital |
Upper East Side Surgical | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Unite Health Center | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Pilgrim Medical Center | Montclair | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
S S C and Z Endoscopy Center | Fort Lee | GI Diagnostic Center |
St. Vincent's Staten Island Surgery Services | Staten Island | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Hanover Endoscopy Center | Whippany | GI Diagnostic Center |
Saint Barnabas Medical Center | Livingston | Acute Care Hospital |
Hudson Valley Hospital Center | Cortlandt Manor | Acute Care Hospital |
Bergen Gastroenterology | Emerson | GI Diagnostic Center |
Columbus Hospital | Newark | Acute Care Hospital |
Queens Hospital Center | Jamaica | Acute Care Hospital |
Centrastate Medical Center | Freehold | Acute Care Hospital |
Bayshore Community Hospital | Holmdel | Acute Care Hospital |
Moshenyat's Gastroenterology O.b.s. | Brooklyn | GI Diagnostic Center |
Hillside Surgicare | Jamaica | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Queens Surgi-center | Glendale | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
May Street Surgi Center | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
North Jersey Ambulatory Surgery Center | Hackensack | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint James Hospital | Newark | Acute Care Hospital |
White Plains Hospital Center | White Plains | Acute Care Hospital |
New York Westchester Square Medical Center | Bronx | Acute Care Hospital |
Holy Name Hospital | Teaneck | Acute Care Hospital |
Metropolitan Surgical Institute | South Amboy | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Lawrence Hospital Center | Bronxville | Acute Care Hospital |
Franklin Surgical Center | Basking Ridge | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Hoboken University Medical Center | Hoboken | Acute Care Hospital |
Gupta Rockaway Obs | Far Rockaway | GI Diagnostic Center |
Kimball Medical Center | Lakewood | Acute Care Hospital |
Palisade Surgery Center | Fort Lee | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Northeast Surgical | Mount Kisco | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint Charles Hospital | Port Jefferson | Acute Care Hospital |
Linden Surgical Center | Linden | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Montefiore Medical Center - Moses Division Hospital | Bronx | Acute Care Hospital |
60 East End Office Endoscopy | New York | GI Diagnostic Center |
Center for Surgical Specialties | Rutherford | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Surgery Center of Somerset | Somerset | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint Mary's Hospital | Passaic | Acute Care Hospital |
Good Samaritan Hospital | Suffern | Acute Care Hospital |
Saint Luke's-roosevelt Hospital Center - Saint Lukes | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Usdk Medical | Rockville Centre | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
North Jersey Center for Surgery | Newton | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Surgical Center at Cedar Knolls | Cedar Knolls | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Edison Surgical Center | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Surgicare Ambulatory Surgery Center of Ny | Bronx | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Maj Surgery | Rye | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ambulatory Surgery Center | Livingston | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center | Secaucus | Acute Care Hospital |
Flushing Hospital Medical Center | Flushing | Acute Care Hospital |
Ironbound Endosurgical Center | Newark | GI Diagnostic Center |
Florham Park Endoscopy Center | Florham Park | GI Diagnostic Center |
Advanced Endoscopy Center | Bronx | GI Diagnostic Center |
Saint Michael's Medical Center | Newark | Acute Care Hospital |
Oak Tree Surgery Center | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Kips Bay Endoscopy Center | New York | GI Diagnostic Center |
Kings County Hospital Center | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Metropolitan Surgery Center | Hackensack | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Gramercy Surgery Center | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Garden State Ambulatory Surgery Center | Toms River | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Surgicenter | Toms River | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Bronx-lebanon Hospital Center - Fulton Division | Bronx | Acute Care Hospital |
Day-op Center of Long Island | Mineola | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Jacobi Medical Center | Bronx | Acute Care Hospital |
Hackensack Endoscopy Center | Hackensack | GI Diagnostic Center |
Saint Clare's Hospital - Denville | Denville | Acute Care Hospital |
Passaic Beth Israel Regional Medical Center | Passaic | Acute Care Hospital |
Karpinski Ambulatory Surgery Unit | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Beth Israel Medical Center - Petrie Division | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Endo-surgi Center of Old Bridge | Old Bridge | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Progressive Surgery Center | Farmingdale | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Northern Monmouth Regional Surgery Center | Manalapan | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Southern Ocean County Hospital | Manahawkin | Acute Care Hospital |
Garden State Endoscopy and Surgery Center | Kenilworth | GI Diagnostic Center |
Roseland Ambulatory Surgery Center | Roseland | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
North Central Bronx Hospital | Bronx | Acute Care Hospital |
The Endoscopy Center of Red Bank | Red Bank | GI Diagnostic Center |
Prospect Street Obs | Huntington | GI Diagnostic Center |
Lakewood Surgery Center | Lakewood | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Westchester Medical Center | Valhalla | Acute Care Hospital |
New York Methodist Hospital | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Jersey City Medical Center | Jersey City | Acute Care Hospital |
Montvale Surgical Center | Montvale | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Lenox Hill Hospital | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Central Jersey Ambulatory Surgical Center | Hillsborough | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Nyack Hospital | Nyack | Acute Care Hospital |
Paramus Surgical Center | Paramus | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Forest Hills Hospital | Forest Hills | Acute Care Hospital |
Elmhurst Hospital Center | Elmhurst | Acute Care Hospital |
Shrewsbury Surgery Center | Shrewsbury | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ocean Endosurgery Center | Toms River | GI Diagnostic Center |
North Shore University Hospital | Manhasset | Acute Care Hospital |
Sdk Medical | Great Neck | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Endo Surgical Center of North Jersey | Clifton | GI Diagnostic Center |
Ramapo Valley Surgical Center | Ramsey | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Parkmed | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
James Street Surgical Suite | Morristown | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Digestive Health Center of Huntington | Huntington | GI Diagnostic Center |
Park Avenue Ambulatory Surgery | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Richmond Ambulatory Surgical Facility | Staten Island | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Roxbury Open MRI and Surgical Center | Succasunna | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Essex Surgical Arts Surgery Center | Belleville | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Palisades Medical Center | North Bergen | Acute Care Hospital |
Manhattan Office Endoscopy | New York | GI Diagnostic Center |
New York Community Hospital | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Surgicare of Oradell | Oradell | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint John's Riverside Hospital - Andrus Pavilion | Yonkers | Acute Care Hospital |
A Center for Advanced Surgery | Paramus | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
The Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Glen Ridge Surgi Center | Glen Ridge | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
County Line Endoscopy and Surgical Center | North Bergen | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway | Rahway | Acute Care Hospital |
Bey Lea Ambulatory Surgical Center | Toms River | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ambulatory Center of Excellence In Surgery | Bloomfield | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Endoscopic Ambulatory Specialty Center of Bay Ridge | Brooklyn | GI Diagnostic Center |
New York-presbyterian Hospital/weill Cornell Medical | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Wayne Surgical Center | Wayne | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Endoscopy Obs at Hmg | Huntington Station | GI Diagnostic Center |
Winthrop-university Hospital | Mineola | Acute Care Hospital |
Southampton Hospital | Southampton | Acute Care Hospital |
Rockland Ambulatory Surgery | Pearl River | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
University Hospital of Brooklyn | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Saint Clare's Hospital - Sussex | Sussex | Acute Care Hospital |
Atlantic Surgery Center | Long Branch | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
2116 Kings Highway GI | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center | Newark | Acute Care Hospital |
Endoscopic Diagnostic and Treatment Center | Brooklyn | GI Diagnostic Center |
Hackensack University Medical Center | Hackensack | Acute Care Hospital |
Weissman Endoscopy Obs | Brooklyn | GI Diagnostic Center |
Suffolk Surgery Center | Shirley | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Blythedale Children's Hospital | Valhalla | Childrens Hospital |
New York GICenter | Bronx | GI Diagnostic Center |
Westchester Ambulatory Surgery Center | White Plains | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Staten Island University Hospital - North Site | Staten Island | Acute Care Hospital |
Prohealth Ambulatory Surgery Center | New Hyde Park | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ambulatory Surgery Center of Greater New York | Bronx | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Loewenstein Endoscopy Ofiices | Long Beach | GI Diagnostic Center |
Surgicare of Englewood Cliffs | Englewood Cliffs | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Mercy Medical Center | Rockville Centre | Acute Care Hospital |
Northfield Surgical Center | West Orange | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
University Surgicenter | East Brunswick | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Coney Island Hospital | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital | New Brunswick | Acute Care Hospital |
Southside Hospital | Bay Shore | Acute Care Hospital |
Old Hook Medical Surgicenter | Emerson | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Nassau University Medical Center | East Meadow | Acute Care Hospital |
Premier Endoscopy | Clifton | GI Diagnostic Center |
Endoscopy Center of Long Island | Garden City | GI Diagnostic Center |
Ambulatory Surgical Center of Old Bridge | Old Bridge | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ocean Parkway Endoscopy Obs | Brooklyn | GI Diagnostic Center |
Shore Outpatient Surgicenter | Lakewood | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Metropolitan Hospital Center | New York | Acute Care Hospital |
Advanced Endoscopy and Surgical Center | Eatontown | GI Diagnostic Center |
Essex Endoscopy Center of Nj | Newark | GI Diagnostic Center |
South Shore Ambulatory Surgery Center | Lynbrook | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Manhattan Colorectal Surgical Unit | New York | GI Diagnostic Center |
Gregory Surgical Services | Jersey City | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Christ Hospital | Jersey City | Acute Care Hospital |
Sheepshead Bay Endoscopy | Brooklyn | GI Diagnostic Center |
Middlesex Surgery Center | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Bergen Regional Medical Center | Paramus | Acute Care Hospital |
Teaneck Gastroenterology | Teaneck | GI Diagnostic Center |
Affiliated Ambulatory Surgery | Morristown | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint Peter's University Hospital | New Brunswick | Acute Care Hospital |
Toms River Surgery Center | Toms River | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Fort Washington Center | New York | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ambulatory Surgery Center of East Tremont Medical Center | Bronx | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Monmouth Surgi Center | Red Bank | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Manalapan Surgery Center | Manalapan | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Children's Specialized Hospital Mountainside | Mountainside | Childrens Hospital |
Hunterdon Center for Surgery | Flemington | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Sheepshead Bay Surgery Center | Brooklyn | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ambulatory Sugical Center of Union County | Union | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Long Island College Hospital | Brooklyn | Acute Care Hospital |
Ridgewood Ambulatory Surgery Center | Ridgewood | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Long Island Jewish Medical Center | New Hyde Park | Acute Care Hospital |
Ambulatory Center for Endoscopy | North Bergen | GI Diagnostic Center |
Long Island Center for Digestive Health | Garden City | GI Diagnostic Center |
Overlook Hospital | Summit | Acute Care Hospital |
Boulevard Surgical Center | Long Island City | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Ap Surgery Center | Edison | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center | Paterson | 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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