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PROCEDURE


While preparations for VC vary, the patient will usually be asked to take Laxative s or other oral agents at home the day before the procedure to clear Stool from the colon. A Suppository is also used to cleanse the rectum of any remaining fecal matter.

VC takes place in the Radiology department of a Hospital or medical center. The examination takes about 10 minutes and does not require Sedatives . During the procedure,

  • The patient is placed in a Supine position on the examination table

  • A thin tube is inserted into the rectum, so that air can be pumped through the tube in order to inflate the colon for better viewing.

  • The table moves through the scanner to produce a series of two-dimensional cross-sections along the length of the colon. A Computer Program puts these images together to create a three-dimensional picture that can be viewed on the Video Screen .

  • The patient is asked to hold his/her breath during the scan to avoid distortion on the images.

  • The scanning procedure is then repeated in a reverse position.


After the examination, the information from the scanner must be processed to create the computer picture or image. A radiologist evaluates the results to identify any abnormalities.

The patient may resume normal activity after the procedure, but if abnormalities are found and the patient needs conventional Colonoscopy , it may be performed the same day.


ADVANTAGES


VC is more comfortable than conventional colonoscopy for some people because it does not use a colonoscope. As a result, no sedation is needed, and the patient can return to his/her usual activities or go home after the procedure without the aid of another person. VC provides clearer, more detailed images than a conventional x-ray using a Barium Enema , sometimes called a lower gastrointestinal (GI) series. It also takes less time than either a conventional colonoscopy or a lower GI series.


DISADVANTAGES


The radiologist cannot take tissue samples ( Biopsy ) or remove polyps during VC, so a conventional colonoscopy must be performed if abnormalities are found. Also, VC does not show as much detail as a conventional colonoscopy, so polyps smaller than 2 millimeters in diameter may not show up on the images.


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SOURCE

  • Adapted from public domain Virtual Colonoscopy . National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.