A Colonoscopy is a visual examination of the large intestine (colon) using a lighted flexible fiber optic endoscope. The surgeons at Kunkel Surgical Group have decades of experience performing thousands of colonoscopies providing a comfortable, safe experience for our patients.

Why do you need this exam?
This exam is very important because there are many types of problems that can occur in the colon. By directly viewing the inside of the colon by doing a colonoscopy, is usually the best exam to help look for problems such as:
Colon cancer
Polyps
Colitis (chronic inflammation of the colon)
Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
Bleeding Lesions
Abdominal symptoms (discomfort associated with weight loss or anemia)
Chronic diarrhea, constipation or a change in bowel habits.

Who needs this exam?
Current recommendations are for all assymptomatic Americans to have a colonoscopy at age 50. Symptoms of bleeding, pain, weight loss and change in bowel habits should be evaluated at any age.

This exam if done early enough can catch problems before they actually occur. If a polyp for example is found during this particular exam, it can be removed at that time, eliminating the need for a major operation at a later time. This surgery is usually done on as an outpatient procedure.