There are several ways to perform colonoscopy

Intestinal problems never follow the routine. Even if you don't eat anything and are very concerned about it, you will still encounter some intestinal problems. At this time, you need to go to the hospital for a colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is not the colonoscopy in our traditional definition, because this type of examination is divided into many types. Different types have different examination effects and are aimed at different diseases, including large colonoscopy, small enteroscopy, 12-colonoscopy and so on.

Types of colonoscopy

Colonoscopy: Mainly used to examine the entire colon. A skilled operator can also enter part of the ileum through the ileocecal valve. Patients with blood in stool, chronic diarrhea or long-term constipation, abdominal masses that require a clear diagnosis, anemia, occult blood in stool, weight loss, and suspected colon lesions, those undergoing follow-up after colon tumor surgery, those suspected of having colon lesions after X-ray barium enema; and those who need colonoscopy for lesions such as colorectal polyps.

Enteroscopy: Mainly used for the examination of small intestinal lesions. Currently, there are two types of electronic enteroscopes in China: push-type electronic enteroscope and double-balloon electronic enteroscope. The former's examination range is from the descending part of the duodenum to about the upper 1/2 of the jejunum, while the double-balloon enteroscopy can examine the entire jejunum and ileum, and the examination takes about 2-3 hours. Patients with clinical symptoms of unexplained abdominal pain around the umbilicus, diarrhea, and palpable masses in the mid-abdomen, and those suspected of jejunal and ileal lesions on X-ray enterography, may choose to undergo enteroscopy.

Duodenoscope: Mainly used for examination and treatment of common bile duct and pancreatic lesions.

So, what symptoms require a colonoscopy?

Indications for colonoscopy

1. The blood in the stool cannot be confirmed to be caused by hemorrhoids or anal fissures, or the blood in the stool cannot be ruled out as being caused by the large intestine.

2. Patients with repeated black stools or occult blood in stools but no lesions are found in upper gastrointestinal tract examinations.

3. Those whose colorectal abnormalities are found by barium enema X-ray examination and need further diagnosis.

4. Patients who are found to have colorectal polyps and other diseases and need endoscopic treatment.

5. Follow-up examination after drug treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, etc.

6. Follow-up examination after surgery or endoscopic treatment of cancer or polyps.

7. Those who have family members with colorectal cancer or adenoma and need to undergo a physical examination.

8. Health check. The consensus on colorectal cancer screening in the United States and the Asia-Pacific region is that people over the age of 50 should undergo a colonoscopy. However, colorectal cancer occurs earlier in China than in the West, so colorectal cancer experts suggest that people over the age of 40 should undergo a colonoscopy.