The New York Bariatric Group has numerous AAAASF and New York State certified endoscopy suites in its offices with a board certified anesthesiologist.
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is a test that looks at the interior lining of the large intestine (rectum and colon) through a thin viewing instrument called a colonoscope. A colonoscopy, inserted through the rectum, helps detect ulcers, polyps, tumors, and areas of inflammation or bleeding. During a colonoscopy, a biopsy can be performed and abnormal growths can be removed. Colonoscopy also can be used as a screening test to identify and remove pre-cancerous and cancerous growths in the colon or rectum (colorectal cancer). Colonoscopy enables visual inspection of the entire large bowel from the distal rectum to the cecum. The procedure is a safe and effective means of evaluating the large bowel. The technology for colonoscopy has evolved to provide a very clear image of the mucosa through a video camera attached to the end of the scope.
The camera connects to a computer, which can store and print color images selected during the procedure. Compared with other imaging modalities, colonoscopy is especially useful in detecting small lesions such as adenomas; however, the main advantage of colonoscopy is that it allows for intervention, because biopsies can be taken and polyps removed. Screening for and follow-up of colorectal cancer are among the indications for colonoscopy. Although colorectal cancer is highly preventable, it is the second most common cancer and cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Both men and women face a lifetime risk of nearly 6% for the development of invasive colorectal cancer. Proper screening can help reduce mortality rates at all ages, and colonoscopy plays an important role in this effort.
