Why do I need to bring a driver for my scope test appointment and why does he/she have to stay the whole time I am there? During Your Scope Test

You should be off blood thinners, including aspirin, for 5 – 7 days prior to your procedure. However, if you did take your medication and you are “prepped” for your colonoscopy, maintain your appointment and notify your physician at the time of the procedure.

It is recommended that you hold Metamucil, Citrucel and other fiber products for one week prior to the procedure. This will allow for a better result from the preparation.

Virtual colonoscopy is a FDA approved, non-invasive procedure, which screens for colorectal cancer. Virtual colonoscopy uses a state-of-the-art simulation program to reconstruct abdominal computed tomography (CT) images into a three-dimensional (3D) replica model of the colon. A radiologist, with advanced training, uses the 3D simulated images to navigate your colon in order to identify tumors and pre-cancerous polyps.

Virtual colonoscopy is an abdominal CT scan where "pictures" of the abdomen are taken and then the images are reconstructed into a 3D replica of the colon. The images are then read by a trained radiologist to look for pre-cancerous polyps or abnormalities inside and outside your colon.

There are several advantages and disadvantages for both virtual colonoscopy and optical colonoscopy. Please refer to the summary chart below: of patients have failed/incomplete colonoscopy due to redundancy of the colon or large number of diverticuli Virtual colonoscopy has been proven to be as effective and in some cases more effective than optical colonoscopy in detecting significant polyps. Virtual colonoscopy uses state-of-the-art software to visualize typically 95% to 98% of the colon.

A recent clinical trial conducted at Walter Reed Army Medical Center-Washington, D.C., National Navy Medical Center-Bethesda, MD and Navy Medical Center-San Diego, CA concluded that virtual colonoscopy is slightly more accurate than conventional colonoscopy in detecting significant colonic polyps. This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2003.

The physician needs your colon to be clear of stool the day of your test. If you eat solid food the day prior to your procedure, your bowel is still processing the food and creating stool. If you have stool in your colon during the procedure, this impairs the physician's view, resulting in a possible repeat of the prep and the test.

You should not delay calling 9-1-1 to take an aspirin. Studies have shown that people sometimes delay seeking help if they take an aspirin (or other medicine). Emergency department personnel will give people experiencing a heart attack an aspirin as soon as they arrive. So, the best thing to do is to call 9-1-1 immediately and let the professionals give the aspirin.

It now appears that not everybody responds equally to aspirin's anti-platelet effects. Some people require higher doses, some don't respond at all. Fortunately, we are now able to determine, with a simple in-office blood test, whether someone's aspirin therapy is effective. For further information about this new test, click here (you will need Adobe Acrobat to view the link). Maybe not.

A Colonoscopy lets the physician look inside a patient's colon (large intestine), from the rectum up through the colon to the lower end of the small intestine. The physician inserts a long, flexible, lighted tube (a colonoscope or endoscope) into the rectum and slowly guides it through the colon. The scope transmits an image of the inside of the colon, so the physician can carefully examine the lining of the colon.

Everything you need to know about having a colonoscopy. this article will discuss what a colonoscopy is, including the standard colonoscopy and the virtual colonoscopy. New screenings that detect polyps that can be removed before they turn into colon cancer may be one reason that the death rate from colon cancer has declined in recent years. But fewer cases have been diagnosed as well. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide.

Virtual Colonoscopy (CT Colonoscopy) is the evaluation of the colon utilizing CT. After cleansing the colon the exam is preformed by distending the colon with air and scanning the abdomen and pelvis. The images are “reconstructed” in multiple planes and interpreted by the radiologist. This technique is effective for detecting cancer and polyps greater than 1cm in size. This procedure is faster and less expressive than conventional colonoscopy and does not require sedation.

You must be enrolled in Tricare or Tricare Prime to be eligible for virtual colonoscopy at Brooke Army Medical Center. Any Health Care Provider within the Tricare system can order a virtual colonoscopy. In other words, you do not necessarily need a referral to see a gastroenterologist (GI doctor) first. You can just see your regular Health Care Provider to have him or her put in the orders required for the virtual colonoscopy exam.