Specialties & Services

Colonoscopy

We recommend everyone age 45 years and older get a screening colonoscopy. This is because colorectal cancer commonly develops in middle age. At BJC HealthCare, our expert physicians and other team members strive to make the experience as comfortable as possible.

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Why choose us for colonoscopy?

Although colonoscopies are important, most people don't look forward to getting one. That’s why we work hard to minimize your discomfort and provide you with peace of mind.

We offer:

  • Expert physicians: Our doctors perform thousands of these procedures each year. This means your care is in the hands of specialists who excel at providing the most comfortable experience possible.
  • Monitored anesthesia: This form of anesthesia provides a higher level of comfort by putting you into a deep sleep instead of the twilight sleep of conscious sedation.
  • Same-day imaging facilities: There are some instances where we won’t be able to complete your colonoscopy. For example, a colonoscopy will be difficult if your bowels aren’t completely clear, or you have a very curved colon. If this happens, we offer same-day colon X-rays and CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy). These tests mean you can avoid another bowel prep and a separate appointment to complete your procedure.

Colonoscopy testing

On the day of your colonoscopy, you check in at the front desk. A nurse escorts you to a changing room, where you put on a hospital gown. Then you meet the rest of your colonoscopy team, including an anesthesiologist and certified nurse anesthetist, your physician, and nurses.

Biopsy and growth removal

 Your doctor may take small amounts of tissue in a biopsy or remove polyps (small growths) if they find any diseased tissue. The procedure usually takes less than one hour.

Imaging

Your gastroenterologist inserts a thin, flexible tube through your rectum and into your colon. They take images and videos of your colon, looking for signs of cancerous tissue, inflammation, and other irregularities that could cause abnormal bowel movements.

Colon X-rays

 X-rays, also referred to as radiography, provide a quick view of the internal structure of the body. An X-ray can be used to diagnose tumors, degenerative conditions, and blockages.

CT Colonography

 A CT colonography is performed when conventional colonography (for a colonoscopy) does not provide accurate results. The goal of colonography screening is to find growths in their early stages, so that they can be removed before cancer has had a chance to develop.

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