Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the entire large intestine (colon and rectum) using a thin, flexible camera. It detects and removes polyps, investigates bleeding, pain or altered bowel habits, and screens for or rules out colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
Colonoscopy is the gold-standard test for examining the lining of the large bowel. A gastroenterologist passes a flexible endoscope through the rectum and advances it around the colon, viewing high-definition images on a monitor. Polyps can be removed and tissue samples taken during the same procedure, so the test is both diagnostic and therapeutic. It is used to screen for colorectal cancer, find the cause of rectal bleeding, anaemia, chronic diarrhoea or abdominal pain, and to monitor inflammatory bowel disease.
International patients are supported by a dedicated coordinator who arranges scheduling, interpreter services and the bowel-preparation instructions in advance. If you have had previous colonoscopies, CT scans or pathology reports, our gastroenterology team can review them remotely before you travel and give you a transparent, itemised cost estimate so you know what to expect before arrival.
Who is a candidate?
- Adults at average risk who have reached the recommended age for colorectal cancer screening
- People with a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, or a known genetic syndrome
- Patients with rectal bleeding, blood in the stool or unexplained iron-deficiency anaemia
- Persistent change in bowel habit, chronic diarrhoea or unexplained abdominal pain
- Surveillance after previous polyp removal or for inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's or ulcerative colitis)
- A positive stool test (FIT/FOBT) or an abnormal finding on a CT colonography
What happens
- 1
Preparation
The colon must be completely empty for a clear view. You will follow a low-residue then clear-liquid diet and take a prescribed bowel-cleansing laxative the day before. Blood thinners and certain medications may need to be paused after consultation. You should arrange for someone to accompany you home, as sedation prevents driving.
- 2
Arrival and sedation
On the day you change into a gown and a small cannula is placed in a vein. An anaesthetist or the endoscopy team administers conscious sedation and pain relief so you are relaxed and comfortable, monitoring your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen throughout.
- 3
During the procedure
Lying on your left side, the flexible colonoscope is gently inserted through the rectum. Air or carbon dioxide is used to open the bowel for inspection as the scope is advanced to the start of the colon, then slowly withdrawn while the lining is examined in detail.
- 4
Biopsy and polyp removal
If polyps are found they are usually removed painlessly during the same session using a snare or forceps, and any suspicious areas are biopsied. Samples are sent to pathology for analysis.
- 5
Afterwards & results
You rest in recovery for one to two hours until the sedation wears off. Mild bloating or cramping from the air is normal and settles quickly. The doctor explains the visual findings the same day; biopsy and polyp pathology results follow within a few days and are shared with you and your home physician.
Benefits
- Examines the entire large bowel directly, the most accurate method available
- Detects and removes pre-cancerous polyps in the same session, preventing cancer
- Allows targeted biopsies to confirm or rule out cancer and inflammatory disease
- Minimally invasive with no incisions and same-day discharge
- Performed under comfortable sedation with rapid recovery
Risks & considerations
- Temporary bloating, cramping or gas from the air used during the test
- Minor bleeding, usually after polyp removal or biopsy, which is normally self-limiting
- Small risk of a tear (perforation) in the bowel wall, which is rare
- Reactions to the sedation, such as low blood pressure or breathing changes, monitored throughout
- Occasionally the whole colon cannot be examined and a repeat or alternative test is advised
Where it is performed
This procedure is performed by our Gastroenterology Department.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Colonoscopy — frequently asked questions
No. The procedure is performed under conscious sedation, so most patients feel relaxed, drowsy and remember little or nothing afterwards. You may notice mild bloating from the air used to inflate the bowel, but this passes quickly.
A clean bowel is essential for an accurate result. You will follow a special diet for one to two days and take a prescribed laxative preparation the evening before. Your coordinator provides written, translated instructions and answers any questions in advance.
Yes. If polyps are found they are usually removed painlessly during the same examination and sent to pathology. This means a single visit can both diagnose and treat the problem.
The doctor discusses what was seen during the procedure with you on the same day. If biopsies were taken or polyps removed, the laboratory results are typically ready within a few days and are shared with you and your home doctor.
Yes. Our gastroenterology team can review prior colonoscopy reports, CT scans and pathology slides remotely before you arrive, so we can confirm whether the test is needed and plan it efficiently around your stay.
The cost depends on whether sedation, biopsies or polyp removal are required and where it is performed. After a remote review of your history we provide a transparent, itemised personalised estimate before you travel, with no hidden fees.
Related treatments
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