What type doctor colonoscopy

How many colonoscopies has the doctor performed? How many perforations has the doctor had? How often does your doctor complete the colonoscopy? Can the doctor remove polyps from your colon?

Digestive Health Topics A-Z. Advancing gastroenterology, improving patient care. In the study, when researchers examined medical data for men and women ages 70 to 89, they found that in comparison to people who did not have colonoscopies….

And unfortunately they did not analyze how each type of doctor fared in terms of complication rates. To learn more about why gastroenterologists may have come out on top, I talked with study coauthor Nancy Baxter, MD, PhD, who cited three potential reasons….

This study suggests that, when you are going to have a colonoscopy, your odds of not becoming a victim of colon cancer are highest when choosing a gastroenterologist. So you can start by looking for a board-certified gastroenterologist in your area at the Web site of the American College of Gastroenterology. But is a gastroenterologist always going to be a better choice? Not necessarily, said Dr. Remember, this study looks at overall odds in a large group of patients.

Weber, and many other doctors, the stool tests are not enough. Seeing is believing. Stool tests may detect signs of cancer, but negative results miss the possibility that small polyps may be lurking, posing a risk of developing into tumors later on. Weber says. Also, stool tests also are not for patients with a high risk of colon cancer. Stool tests are not recommended for patients who have a history of polyps, previous positive stool tests or a family history of colon cancer.

Patients often dread the colonoscopy prep more than the procedure itself. But times have changed, and no longer are prescribed laxatives or harsh bowel cleansers necessary in many cases.

Talk to your doctor about options. Some doctors may suggest over-the-counter laxatives that are easier to swallow. There are some preps that aren't that bad. But the drugs last for hours, far longer than needed, and have shown not to work in some younger patients or in patients with a history of alcohol or drug use, Dr.

The sedation drug Propofol, he says, may be a better option because it works quickly before the procedure and may take less recovery time after. Some patients even ask not to be sedated during the procedure, Dr. Weber says, though he does not recommend that approach.