A colonoscopy is where a camera is placed through the anus and is used to examine the large intestine or colon. This procedure is performed in an endoscopy suite under anesthesia. Colonoscopies are performed to screen for colon cancer, abnormal bleeding, or unknown abdominal pain.

This procedure requires a bowel prep using either liquid GoLytely prep or the pill form of Sutab prep the day before. During the procedure any polyps that are found are removed and sent to pathology to assess cancer risk. Follow up colonoscopies vary from person to person depending on family history, personal history, number of polyps, and cancer risk of those polyps. Patients who undergo colonoscopies go home the same day.