When a person eats, the food goes into the stomach and begins the digestion process. Unless the person has some sort of a digestion problem, then he or she will not be able to feel most of this process. The stomach juices break down the food. Then, it passes to the large intestine, and from there to the small intestine, which is also known as the colon.
Years of eating various kinds of food can sometimes take their toll on the colon, and so preventative scans such as the traditional colonoscopy or the virtual colonoscopy are then needed. Usually, a person will not need this kind of test until he or she has reached middle age.
Many people, unfortunately, have had a tendency to avoid getting their colon checked, because they are unaware that the virtual colonoscopy is an option. In the original form of the colonoscopy, the patient under mild sedation, had a long tube that was attached to a camera inserted up their rectum and all the way through their colon.
Needless to say, while the original form of the colonoscopy was invasive, it also had the potential to be harmful. This was especially true for the delicate elderly, who were at risk for internal bleeding or perforation. However, both of these risks were eliminated when the virtual colonoscopy was invented.
While far less invasive, there is still a basic procedure that anyone who is going to be having the procedure done will need to do in preparation. For a couple of days before the procedure, the patient will only be able to eat foods that can be easily digested, such as broth. Then, the night before the procedure, the patient will need to drink a special drink that will help to clear out any additional food that is still present in the colon.
On the day of the virtual colonoscopy, the patient should arrive to the outpatient facility wearing comfortable clothing that does not have any metal in it, because metal will impair the efficiency of the scanning machine. This is a clear difference from the original form of the colonoscopy, in which the patient had to wear a medical robe.
Next, a small plastic tube will be inserted about two inches into the rectum. This tube is connected to the medical scanning device itself. A small amount of air will blow through the tube in order to eliminate any other folds that might be present. Once this has been completed, the scan will then begin.
It is very important for the patient to remain as still as possible during the scan. The images that are gathered from the camera device during the scan are transmitted to a computer, which will then allow the technician and the doctor a three dimensional virtual journey through the colon. While the original colonoscopy procedure took around an hour to complete, this procedure only takes around fifteen minutes. Once the procedure has been completed, the patient can then resume regular activities.
