Sigmoidoscopy

Before deciding if a sigmoidoscopy is suitable for you, it’s essential to schedule an appointment with your doctor. This initial consultation will allow them to evaluate your symptoms, review your medical history, and address any concerns you may have.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as:

• Rectal bleeding
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Rectal pain
• Stool incontinence

A sigmoidoscopy might be an effective method to investigate these issues and identify the underlying cause.

Preparing for a sigmoidoscopy procedure

To prepare for the sigmoidoscopy, you will receive specific instructions to follow before the procedure, such as:

• Five days prior, you will be advised to stop taking certain supplements, such as iron or charcoal tablets
• Two days before, you should begin a low-fibre diet
• 12 hours before, you must refrain from eating or drinking, even if you are on a typical ‘normal diet’
• Two hours before the appointment, stop drinking
• Upon arrival at the hospital for your appointment, you will be shown to your room to change. Remember to bring any prescription medications with you. Your doctor will confirm that you are ready to proceed with the procedure
• Just prior to the procedure an enema (small amount of liquid) will be administered through the anus by a trained nurse to help empty the end portion of the bowel to allow visualisation during the procedure

This procedure typically begins with you lying on your left side on the exam table. A specially trained doctor, known as an endoscopist, performs the procedure to ensure both safety and precision. They will gently insert the tube into your rectum using a medical-grade lubricant. This tube is equipped with a light and camera at the end, which displays images on a screen, allowing the technician to view the inside of your large intestine, bowel wall, bowel lining, and colon and rectum.

If colon polyps are detected, those can be removed during this safe procedure, this procedure is painless. In cases where colorectal cancer (colon cancer) is suspected, a follow-up appointment will be scheduled.

A sigmoidoscopy is completed within the same day; however, test results may not be available immediately, especially if the team needs to analyse a tissue sample or if abnormal tissue was removed.

After the procedure, some individuals might experience side effects, such as slight bleeding. While this isn’t common, it’s important to consult the medical team if you have concerns. Possible side effects include:

• Mild cramping or pain
• Bloating
• Increased gas

Most individuals can resume their regular diet right after the procedure.

It’s crucial to contact the hospital if, within 48 hours, you experience:

• Abdominal pain
• Bloody bowel movements, rectal bleeding, or blood clots (more than just small amounts of ‘spotting’)
• Elevated temperature (fever)
• General feelings of being unwell

Risks and complications

Although sigmoidoscopy is a safe procedure, there are potential risks and complications to be aware of. These include bleeding, bowel perforation, and infection. Bleeding is the most frequent complication and generally occurs when a polyp is removed, or a biopsy is performed. Bowel perforation is a very rare complication that might happen if the sigmoidoscope inadvertently damages the bowel wall, occurring less than 1 in 2500 cases. Infection is also an very uncommon risk that can arise when bacteria enter the bowel via the sigmoidoscope. It is crucial to discuss these risks with your doctor prior to the procedure to ensure you are fully informed.