What Is Involved in Sigmoidoscopy Prep?

A sigmoidoscopy is a minimally-invasive procedure used to check for abnormal growths within the lower portion of the colon. The most difficult part of sigmoidoscopy prep for most patients involves the various treatments needed to clean out the colon before the procedure can be performed. Some attention to diet is also needed during the days just before this type of examination. A patient will also need to discuss any other medical conditions or medications with his or her doctor before undergoing this procedure. Medical staff may administer pain medication or a mild sedative before the procedure.

This procedure involves the use of an endoscope, a probe that may be flexible or rigid, to look inside the body. In this case, the probe is used to look inside the lower portion of the colon. The main use of this procedure is to detect cancer or any abnormalities that might develop into cancer if left untreated. It is a less intrusive and less expensive alternative to a full colonoscopy.

Sigmoidoscopy prep requires the colon to be empty of food. This is achieved through a combination of a liquid diet and the use of laxatives or enemas. Some restrictions are placed on the liquid diet, as certain foods can stain the colon and make it more difficult for medical personnel to obtain accurate results. The specific steps in this phase of sigmoidoscopy prep may vary somewhat on a case-by-case basis, but all such preparations will lead to the colon being empty so that it can be examined.

A doctor will discuss other medications and conditions with a patient as part of sigmoidoscopy prep. The procedure is quite safe, but some other medical conditions may make it less appropriate, or may complicate the procedure. Medications that greatly decrease the body’s ability to heal, for instance, might pose additional risks, as some bleeding can occur as a result of this procedure.

Medical staff will supervise the final stages of sigmoidoscopy prep. This will require a patient to disrobe and be positioned, typically on his or her side, to facilitate insertion of the endoscope. Some patients may be offered either pain medication or a mild sedative as part of this stage of sigmoidoscopy prep. This practice is more common in the United Kingdom and less common in the United States. The procedure can generally be performed safely and with a minimum of discomfort with or without this additional preparatory step.