What is a Virtual Colonoscopy?
Also given the name of computed tomography or CT colonography , Virtual Colonoscopy is an imaging subprogram , which take aim images of the inner portions of a patient ’s colon and rectum . Virtual colonoscopy is mostly used by physicians to identify any polyp or pocket-sized benignant growths , and also detect comportment of any colon or rectal malignancy .
What is the Difference Between Virtual Colonoscopy and Regular Colonoscopy?
In a regular colonoscopy , a thin and flexible tube is slid into the rectum for help the doctor see inside the colon . The patient role continue asleep during the process . The light and television camera at the death of the tube is used to respect the lining of the intestine . If polyps or change in the tissue paper are date , the doctor can take some out through the thermionic vacuum tube ( biopsy ) and see it for genus Cancer . However in virtual colonoscopy , there is no camera inserted into the intestine and nor is the affected role gone during the test . A CT digital scanner and x - electron beam are instead used by the doctor to get 3 - 500 video of the patient ’s intestine on a computer screen .
How Should One Prepare For A Virtual Colonoscopy?
The prep for virtual colonoscopy is same as that in unconstipated colonoscopy . The affected role would involve to shift what they eat for some Clarence Shepard Day Jr. and take medicines to clean their colon . Patients undergo virtual colonoscopy would need to drink a special line liquidity before the tryout . This liquid state lines the inside of the intestine and makes it easy to see on the scans generate from virtual colonoscopy . The patient before undergoing the virtual colonoscopy exam must let their doctor know about all the medicine they are take . This admit prescription medicine drug like vitamin , add-on , and herbs . The patient role may be asked to quit some of these for a light clock time before the practical colonoscopy mental testing . one who have suffer from a reaction to contrast liquid ordinarily used for x - beam of light , in the past times should inform their physicians about it before embarking for a practical colonoscopy . Pregnant womanhood should never get a virtual colonoscopy done .
What Happens in Virtual Colonoscopy and How Long Does This Procedure Take?
Virtual colonoscopy is done by trained technicians and is an outpatient routine . During the test , the patient role would be call for to first lie sideways on a narrow table while a short , slight tube would be put into their rectum to fill their intestine with gentle wind . This is done to help the bowel expand and smoothen out , and the patient ’s belly feel full but without any pain . Once the breadbasket is filled with air , the table is then slipped into a ring like social organization which has the shape of a doughnut . The person in charge of the automobile then leave the room but can hear , see , and speak with the patient throughout the continuance of the interrogatory . The patient may be ask to turn or hold their breath at unlike times . The car can click and whizz as the scans are done . The entire procedure of practical colonoscopy would take about 10 to 15 minutes .
What Happens Post Virtual Colonoscopy?
Post virtual colonoscopy , some patients can sense bloated for a while and have flatulency as they pass the air out of their intestine . The patient can resume their normal dieting and their normal activity after a virtual colonoscopy .
What are the Pros and Cons of Virtual Colonoscopy?
Virtual colonoscopy has its pros and cons . Compared to traditional colonoscopy , practical colonoscopy is less encroaching , is performed quicker , and does not want conscious drugging . practical colonoscopy is also cheaper and is less wild than veritable colonoscopy . Virtual colonoscopy is easy for elderly and people who take blood thinners . There is no recovery time for practical colonoscopy and the patient can summarize their normal action immediately after this test .
However , there are sure drawback of virtual colonoscopy . Even though the subprogram is less encroaching when compare to a regular colonoscopy , practical colonoscopy does require atmosphere to be filled in the colon which can lead to discomfort in some patient . But if the patient was under passable conscious sedation , like in regular colonoscopy , the patient would experience little or no soreness at all . Another drawback of practical colonoscopy is that it is not as dependable as unconstipated colonoscopy in detecting small polyps .
Despite majority of physicians being of the opinion that a polypus which measures less than 5 millimetre normally are benign in most cases , some of these ontogeny can become malignant with meter if they are not removed in their entirety . Coming to detection of malignant polyp , virtual colonoscopy fails to do so and moreover this is a symptomatic test and no polyps are removed by doing this . If polyp are detected by virtual colonoscopy , traditional colonoscopy would then need to be performed to remove the polyp . So , many people who have virtual colonoscopy would need to undergo a 2nd subprogram . Despite the radiation therapy to which an mortal is exposed to with this routine is considered to be safe , what effect does it have in the retentive term is still a matter of probe . Another thing is that practical colonoscopy is not always covered by indemnity .
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