Question- Risk of colonoscopy

T o p i c : Risk of colonoscopy

Q: What is the risk of an injury or complication associated with this procedure?

A: Colonoscopy is a relatively safe outpatient procedure when performed by a skilled endoscopist for appropriate indications in a properly prepared patient. The overall risk of perforation is roughly about 1 in 1700 cases. The risk of perforation increases with the performance of biopsy, cauterization or polyp removal. Certain other factors may increase the risk of perforation including but not limited to steroid medication usage, prior abdominal surgery , radiation therapy or diverticulitis associated with scar tissue (or adhesions). The risk of death during a colonoscopy procedure is very very low. It is in part related to the preoperative risk level of the individual patient (this is sometimes classified as the ASA class ( 1 being the healthiest and 3 being a higher risk patient). If the preoperative ASA class is 1 ( a generally healthy patient of low risk potential) then the procedure related mortality is very very low. Likewise. if the patient had multiple medical problems and/or was clinically unstable at the time of the examination then the risks may increase accordingly. In conclusion, the risk of death from a colonoscopy procedure is very low when considered as a percentage of the number of elective procedures routinely performed . Understandably, statistics are of small comfort when a complication occurs to a member of your family.