Colonoscopy.com

Q

What are some health conditions that are contraindicated for a Colonoscopy?

Do patients with certain health issues such as diabetes, or immunocompromised people have higher risk of suffering complications during and after a Colonoscopy screening?

Healthcare Providers (4)

Yes, there is a slightly higher risk from the anesthesia, but you will be evaluated by the anesthesiologist before the procedure. You are monitored during the entire procedure.

Not necessarily. It’s important for a diabetic to monitor their blood sugar carefully during the prep to avoid getting hypoglycemic. In terms of immunocompromise, if a patient is on corticosteroids, that might make their colon lining thinner than normal and more prone to perforation, but again, that is very uncommon.

Diabetic patients are at increased risk for decreased movements of the colon and might need to take more medications to clear their bowels. Some of the conditions you mentioned above could increase the risk of having complications during Colonoscopy, such as perforation. I am not aware of long term complications in diabetes patients. Patients with severe immunosuppression should not get a Colonoscopy but should wait for the immune system to recover.

Many conditions, including: recent heart attack; hemodynamic instability; peritonitis; recent surgery with colonic anastomosis or bowel injury and repair; known or suspected colon perforation; fulminant colitis and severe toxic megacolon.

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