Question- Local or city hospital?

T o p i c : Local or city hospital?

Q: If something needs to be checked with a colonoscopy after a barium enema x-ray and you are a high risk patient due to circulatory problems including aneurysms and blood clots....do you go to the small local hospital for the test or is it better to go to the larger city hospital where it is more equipped for emergency.

A: If an individual has significant cardiovascular risk factors for the performance of an endoscopic procedure, then ideally the procedure should be performed in a facility that has surgical backup staff appropriate to the particular circumstances and intensive care facilities to treat potential complications. For example, if a high risk cardiac patient needed a colonoscopy and there was a choice of different facilities, then one might consider using the facility with the available backup support services such as open heart surgery/ cardiac catheterization laboratory with angioplasty services. On the other hand, since serious complications are relatively rare it may be best to have the procedure done at the facility where your primary care physician would be available to consult if there were a problem. Potential risks associated with aneurysms (?abdominal aorta ? cerebral) and/ or blood clots are complex issues that can only be assessed by the treating consultant.