Bowel examination (colonoscopy)

Good preparation is very important for a bowel exam, because it increases the ability to detect problems and reduces the risk of complications! If the colon is not sufficiently cleansed, the examination may be postponed or interrupted. Therefore, do the preparation strictly as prescribed.

If you have problems with preparation, it is best to contact the endoscopy department as soon as possible.

By taking the preparation, you will have watery stools in the following hours. Sometimes you can get stomach cramps.

The bowel wash may reduce the effect of some medicines, which is the case with birth control pills. If you are taking medicines for diabetes, ask your doctor about the dose and time of taking or injecting. It is best to consult with your doctor or specialist which medication can, should or should not be taken on the day of the examination. Good preparation starts (if possible) one week before the study.

Good result of the preparation = watery, light yellow (not brown) colored stools without chunks.

Report the following to the secretariat 2 weeks before the investigation:

• Allergies
• Diabetes, heart and/or lung problems
• Presence of heart valves, defibrillator, neurostimulator, or pacemaker.
• Taking blood-thinning medications e.g. preparations containing asperin, Plavix, Marcoumar, Clopidogrel, Ticlid, Xarelto, Pradaxa, Eliquis, Brilique, Marevan, Sintrom, Fraxodi, Clexane, Fraxiparine... Blood thinning medication will have to be stopped in certain cases, always in consultation with the doctor
• Taking anti-inflammatories

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A light supper around 4 pm and start with PLENVU at the latest around 6.30 pm:

• Mix dose 1 with ½ litre (500ml) of fresh water.
• Drink this product alternately with 1 litre of still water.
• Drink the liquids within 1h-1h15.
• Do not drink too fast to prevent nausea.

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DON'T eat anything and start around 7.30 am:

• Start the day with two glasses of fresh still water
• Mix dose 2 (bag A + B) with ½ litre (500ml) of fresh water.
• Drink this product alternately with 1 litre of still water.
• Drink the liquids within 1h - 1h15.

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This examination takes place under general anesthesia, mild sedation (“sedation”) or without anesthesia and requires a (daily) admission. If the examination takes place in the day hospital, ask a family member/acquaintance to take you home after the examination. After a general anaesthetic, you are not allowed to drive a vehicle. Do not plan important activities after the investigation. Your concentration and assessment may have been reduced.

When it is almost your turn, you will be taken to the endoscopy department. This always happens in a bed, as you will (possibly) receive anesthesia. You will also need to wear an “operating apron” to protect your own clothing. The nurse in the endoscopy department will puncture a vein in the arm so that the doctor can administer the anaesthetic. Depending on the method of anaesthesia used, you may or may not consciously experience the study.

During deep sedation, a mask containing oxygen is held over your face to increase the oxygen level in your blood. These powerful and reliable medicines will put you into “light” artificial sleep. This sedation can suppress breathing and the protective reflexes of your lungs (swallowing and coughing). Therefore, the safety conditions and preparation for sedation are the same as those for general anaesthesia. If this has been agreed with you in advance, you can also work with an even lighter form of anesthesia where you are not fully asleep but are a bit dazed.

During the examination, you lie on your left side and the oxygen level in the blood is continuously measured. This is done with a measuring device that is placed on the finger. You will also receive oxygen glasses in the nose. The research takes approximately 20 - 30 minutes. After the examination, you will sleep in (approximately 30 min) in the wake up room in the endoscopy department, where you will be closely monitored.

You will be admitted at the agreed time. At the reception (entrance to the hospital), you will receive labels and show the way to your ward and room. When admitted to the department, you will always be asked whether the preparation went well and whether the stool has already become clear. If the preparation is still insufficient, another lavement may be administered (after consultation with the doctor). Very exceptionally, we ask you to drink extra drinks, in which case your study will be postponed for a few hours. When bowel preparation is sufficient, we ask you to stay sober. This is certainly important if you are also getting a stomach exam and/or you are being examined under general anesthesia. We try to reduce the waiting time as much as possible. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that it will be your turn immediately. Unforeseen circumstances may influence the specified direction of the investigation. It is therefore best to bring something to enjoy the waiting time.

After the examination, you may have some bloating due to the inhaled carbon dioxide. Then lie on the left side and let the air escape by letting out some wind. In case of severe pain or loss of blood, you should always tell the nurse or doctor. Your doctor will visit the wake-up room or ward after you have woken up well to tell you the results of the examination. You will also receive a letter for the doctor and yourself telling you what to do next and how you will find out the results if pieces of tissue were taken. If you have recovered sufficiently from the examination and the anaesthetic, you may leave the hospital after the doctor's approval (approximately 2 hours after the examination).

Risk of taking Plenvu

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• dehydration
• nausea (feeling sick)
• vomiting
  

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• abdominal distension and abdominal pain
• sensitivities and pains
• allergic reaction
• chills
• weariness
• headache or migraine
• hot flushes
• increased blood sugar levels in diabetic patients
• increased heart rate
• palpitations
• anus sensitivity
• somnolence
• temporarily increased blood pressure
• temporarily increased liver enzymes
• thirst
• various imbalances in the salt balance
• weakness
  

Risks of the research itself

Complications such as perforation (which has caused a small hole in the intestine) or bleeding are extremely rare (0.3%) when only a diagnostic test is performed. Complications are slightly more frequent (up to 2%) when treatment (e.g. removal of a polyp) also needs to be performed. Usually, this complication is noticed immediately during the examination and then also treated. In rare cases, urgent surgery must still be performed for these complications. Bleeding can sometimes still occur late (up to 2 weeks after the examination), but even then, it can usually be treated with a new colonoscopy.