Patients under light sedation are mostly conscious, and can feel some levels of pain and respond to questions. Light: Light sedation is enough to make a patient slightly sleepy, however, you should experience no changes to your motor functions, your cardiovascular function, or your general breathing.A very small number of patients choose to have zero sedation during a colonoscopy. No Sedation: No medications or anesthesia is used in these cases.Levels of Colonoscopy Sedationįirstly, it is important to be aware of the different levels of sedation that you can be under while undergoing a colonoscopy. Colonoscopy and Anesthesia: Everything You Need To KnowĪs a patient, you have the right to decide on the level of sedation and the type of anesthesia for your colonoscopy, so it is important for you to understand the varying levels of colonoscopy sedation and what anesthesia colonoscopy can do to your body. If doctors observe symptoms similar to those listed above, you may be recommended for a colonoscopy regardless of your age ( source). While many people associate colon cancer with patients 50 years and above, colon cancer can actually develop at any age. Have a history of digestive conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease.A family history of polyps or colon cancer.These symptoms can be signs of colon and colorectal cancer, which can develop in patients who have some or all of the following risk factors: Unusual and extreme bowel activity changes.Patients are recommended to get a colonoscopy if they are experiencing symptoms such as: This procedure can save a patient’s life by effectively detecting and removing polyps, which increases your chances of preventing or even surviving colon cancer. The minor inconvenience posed by colonoscopies is mitigated when its benefits are considered. Patients may experience discomfort after the exam because of this. In some cases, doctors introduce air into the colon to gently inflate it, allowing them to see better. The tube is inserted into the patient’s rectum and pushed up into the large intestine, also known as the colon. 1.8 Learn More About Colonoscopy Anesthesia What is a Colonoscopy?Ī colonoscopy is a medical procedure that involves a colonoscope, a medical device that consists of a small camera and light mounted on a thin, flexible tube.

Nausea after colonoscopy