Is Colonoscopy Advisable For Inguinal Hernia?
Question: i have a inguinal hernia and am due for a colonoscopy...can this be done?
Brief Answer:
Small hernia should not impede colonoscopy.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
If your hernia is a small one there should be no problem. Small hernia usually contains some fat from abdominal cavity.
However if the hernia is really large so intestines are in the scrotum, there might be a problem with performing this test. But nothing wrong should not happen. At least colonoscopy will fail.
I suggest you to inform endoscopist about the hernia before it will be done.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
is there any other test available that would suffice.....can i swallow a camera-pill? blood-protein test, etc.?..brief history, i've had five colonoscopies in the past 20 years..all clear..there is family history of colon cancer however.
Brief Answer:
Detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
First of all it is necessary to verify if the colonoscopy is necessary right now.
Please note that it takes approximately 10 years for colon cancer to develop. That is why the gap between colonoscopies should be 10 years if there is no symptoms.
Another thing is to determine if you are really in the higher risk group due to family history of colon cancer.
We can say that the colon cancer is hereditary or runs in the family if it appears before the age of 50.
So if this cancer was in your family member who was older than 50, your risk of colon cancer is regular, same as every other person and there is no hereditary cancer in your family.
Colonoscopy is not a regular test. It is kind of risky test as some percentage of colonoscopies gives intestine perforation.
So in conclusion, I do not think that you need colonoscopy sooner than 10 years after last colonoscopy.
There is available similar, but more comfortable test called virtual colonoscopy. It is made with CT.
Instead of colonoscopy you can also perform FOBT (fecal occult blood test) every year. It should be done after 3 days without meat. And it should be repeated in 3 consecutive stool samples.
Hope this will help.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar