Best Colonoscopy Specialists in Midtown Manhattan and Upper East Side, NYC

A colonoscopy (coloscopy) is an endoscopic examination of the large bowel performed by our colonoscopy screening doctors at Manhattan Gastroenterology. Our gastroenterologists guide a colonoscope (a long, thin, flexible tube containing a tiny video camera) from the anus to the end of the colon (cecum) and into the distal part of the small bowel (the terminal ileum). During your coloscopy, images from the camera are shown in real-time on a monitor, allowing the doctor to carefully examine the bowel. Biopsies and treatment can be given during this procedure, which usually takes about 30 minutes. We offer colonoscopy screening in multiple locations in New York City, including Midtown Manhattan and Upper East Side (UES).

What Is a Colonoscopy and Why Is It Performed?

Colonoscopy is the gold standard screening exam used to look for colorectal cancer (commonly referred to as colon cancer) that is recommended in patients without symptoms aged 45 or over (or earlier depending on risk factors such as family history, polyps, and other factors) that should be discussed with your local gastroenterologist. Coloscopy is used to look for polyps or other growths in the colon with the goal of prevention and early diagnosis of colon cancer.

Our physicians use a long, flexible tube called a colonoscope. This device, about as thick around as a finger, has a video camera on its tip and sends images to a video monitor, where the doctor can observe its trip from your rectum to the deepest part of your colon. Colonoscopy is also used to evaluate patients with a wide array of digestive symptoms, including rectal bleeding, chronic diarrhea, chronic constipation as well as many other symptoms as part of a complete evaluation for a proper diagnosis.

At colonoscopy clinic, Manhattan Gastroenterology, we utilize the latest in medical technology and high definition equipment, and imaging modalities in order to optimally visualize your bowel during coloscopy to make a diagnosis and establish an effective treatment plan. Our gold star-rated JCAHO colonoscopy center is equipped to make sure your procedure is comfortable and safe while you are having your colonoscopy performed.

Why Is It So Important to Have a Colonoscopy and What Is a Screening Colonoscopy?

Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard of colorectal cancer screening methods.

Colon cancer is among the leading causes of cancer deaths in the United States, claiming about 50,000 lives a year. Increased awareness and prevention could save many of those patients. Coloscopy is a screening test to detect cancer early, while it is still treatable, and to detect and remove colonic polyps which may develop into cancers. The colonoscopy procedure also can be used to evaluate the cause of such symptoms as rectal bleeding, chronic diarrhea, and chronic constipation, and a wide array of digestive symptoms for an accurate diagnosis as part of a complete evaluation. By visually inspecting the inside lining of your colon, trained GI doctors who specialize in colonoscopies can assess its overall health and look for signs of other medical issues to get you back to health.

Who should have a Colonoscopy?

It is recommended that all individuals over 45 (or early depending on risk factors such as family history, history of polyps, and other reasons) undergo a screening colonoscopy. Patients with digestive symptoms such as rectal bleeding, chronic diarrhea, and many other symptoms should have a full evaluation by their gastroenterologist, which will likely include a coloscopy exam procedure and another testing as needed.

Depending on your personal and family history, you may need to have colonoscopies on a more regular basis which is to be decided by your gastroenterologist. After a colonoscopy, it’s important to discuss with your gastroenterologist when your next colonoscopy is due, which is based on many factors.

What Will the Doctor Be Looking for During Colonoscopy?

During the colonoscopy procedure, the doctor examines the entire large bowel for ‘polyps’ and other abnormalities of the lining of the colon. Polyps are growths that develop in the lining of the bowel. Around 40% of people over the age of 50 are found to have polyps in their bowel during a coloscopy test. Polyps can vary in size from being just a few millimeters in diameter to up to several centimeters in size. Some polyps are flat, while others are attached to the bowel wall by a narrow stalk. Although most polyps do not contain cancer, it is generally accepted that cancers arise in polyps.

If polyps are detected during the colonoscopy diagnostic test, they will most likely be taken out at the time. If there are abnormalities in the lining of the colon, a biopsy will be taken and sent to the pathologist for examination. Sometimes, during colonoscopy screening, the doctor will take biopsies of your colon to look for microscopic diseases that can not be seen with the naked eye. The doctor will use the results of the colonoscopy test to diagnose your symptoms in order to come up with an effective treatment plan.

What Are Some of the Indications for a Colonoscopy?

• Routine health screening
• Rectal bleeding
• Anemia
• A change in bowel habit
• Chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Weight loss
• Abdominal pain
• Monitoring of conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease
• Another specialist has ordered that you have a colonoscopy
• Many other symptoms and conditions

Since some of the symptoms are also the symptoms of more severe conditions, you should see your local gastroenterologist who specializes in colonoscopy screening or visit a Manhattan Colonoscopy Center. Call us for an appointment or visit any of our outpatient colonoscopy locations in NYC to meet the best in class, top-rated gastroenterologists. We offer outpatient, private colonoscopy as well as the same-day, emergency colonoscopies.

Why Chose Manhattan Gastroenterology for Your Colonoscopy?

At Manhattan Gastroenterology, we utilize the latest in medical technology and high definition equipment, and imaging modalities in order to optimally visualize your bowel during colonoscopy to make a diagnosis and establish an effective treatment plan. Our gold star-rated JCAHO procedure room is equipped to make sure your procedure is safe while you are having your colonoscopy performed. Our board-certified anesthesiologists are also there with you the entire time, making sure the procedure is both comfortable and safe. Importantly, our board-certified gastroenterologists who undergo extensive training on colonoscopies will perform your procedure and help you to get the answers that you need.

Our physicians utilize the latest high-definition imaging modalities in order to optimally visualize your bowel during colonoscopy test procedure to make an accurate diagnosis. We offer the newest colonoscopy procedure in all New York City locations.

How Many Days Do I Need to Take off Work?

You will need to take off work the day of the colonoscopy gastroscopy procedure.

Do I Have to Take Laxatives Before My Colonoscopy?

Bowel preparation before a colonoscopy is extremely important. Good preparation allows a physician to thoroughly examine the colon. The bowels need to be completely and carefully cleaned so that the doctor can easily discover any potential problems. Polyps or other abnormalities may be harder to notice if the bowels aren’t prepped and emptied properly prior to the procedure. You should consult the gastroenterologist that is performing your procedure for you about the details of your bowel preparation (solution, specific instructions) to ensure it is done correctly to allow for a better prep rather than relying on general instructions. Procedural preparations also change and evolve with time, so it is important to understand what preparation, solution, and instructions your doctor recommends now for the best preparation for your procedure.

What About Medications That I Take?

You should discuss all the medications that you are taking with your gastroenterologist prior to your procedure. Your specialist will advise you accurately if there is any reason to discontinue any of their use. This must be discussed with your gastroenterologist as this is a case-by-case decision in order to ensure your safety. Patients should advise their doctors of all medications they are taking. Make sure to tell your gastroenterologist if you are allergic to any medications prior to having a coloscopy performed. At Manhattan Gastroenterology, our doctors for colonoscopy will be glad to discuss this with you prior to your procedure.

What Can I Expect When I Arrive and Immediately Before the Procedure?

Colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death among men and women combined in the United States.

When you arrive at any of the NYC outpatient colonoscopy centers, you will be checked in and complete office paperwork and consent forms for the procedure. You will then be taken to your dressing bay and allowed to change into your gown. The staff will ask you some questions about your condition and indications for the screening procedure and about your experience with the preparation. Your vital signs will also be taken at that time, and answer any questions you may have.

Will I Receive Sedation?

After you are changed and check-in, our board-certified anesthesiologist will place an IV line in anticipation of providing sedation for the procedure. The anesthesiologist will place a nasal canal for oxygen, and EKG electrodes will be attached to your chest for safe monitoring during the procedure. The sedation will help you better tolerate any discomfort, such as pressure, bloating, or cramping. Our board-certified anesthesiologists are always present to make sure you are comfortable and safe during your entire procedure. Since sedation is given, you will need a driver to take you home, which should be arranged ahead of time.

What Can I Expect During the Procedure?

Before beginning the procedure, you are asked to lie on your left side. The anesthesiologist will then slowly administer the medication, making you sleepy. Your doctor will then insert the colonoscope into your rectum and advances it along your large intestine to examine its lining. Since you will be sedated for the procedure, you most likely will not feel pain or discomfort during this time.

What Is the Colonoscopy Doctor Looking for During My Colonoscopy and What Kind of Results Are Obtained?

During the procedure, our doctors use a high-definition video screen to visualize the colon and control the movement of the colonoscope. Our doctors examine the lining of your colon as they insert and withdraw the colonoscope. If polyps are visible, they are removed using biopsy instruments or a snare. Using a technique called “snare polypectomy,” our specialists pass a wire through the colonoscope and circle the polyp at its base. Our doctors will then use an electrical current to remove the polyp from your intestinal wall. Snare polypectomy is a painless procedure.

Colonoscopy is a relatively safe and well-tolerated cancer-prevention procedure

If our specialist discovers an area that warrants further investigation, they can pass instruments through the colonoscope to retrieve a biopsy — a small tissue sample — to be analyzed. Biopsies can help identify a variety of conditions; the doctor may take one even if they don’t suspect cancer because it can help diagnose other conditions. This procedure causes no discomfort or pain and is generally well tolerated. It also provides very important information to the doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan to be formulated.
Even if the colonoscopy specialist finds nothing in the lining of your colon, this does not mean the procedure was ineffective. These results will serve as a baseline for future tests. Colonoscopy has consistently been shown to prevent colon cancer and aid in the diagnosis of a wide range of digestive diseases. Having it done for yourself is an accomplishment.

How Long Does a Colonoscopy Take?

The procedure usually takes 45 minutes or less and is performed at our JCAHO certified office-based surgery unit. Plan on spending two to three hours at the office due to preparation and recovery time. If you’ve been sedated, you’ll need someone to drive you home after the procedure.

What to Expect During the Recovery Stage?

The office staff will monitor your recovery while the sedatives wear off after the procedure. You may experience minor cramping or bloating as a result of the air introduced into your colon during the examination, but this should be brief. Before you are released, your doctor will explain what, if anything, they discovered, even though the results of any biopsies are not yet known. It is critical to discuss with your doctor when the next colonoscopy will be scheduled based on your results and what the plan for the future will be.
Again, because you will be sedated, you must have someone to stay with you until you are released and drive you home. Even if you are awake, your judgment and reflexes may be impaired for the next 12 to 24 hours. You can eat after the procedure unless you are instructed otherwise.

How to Prepare for a Colonoscopy?

Your physician will provide you with detailed preparation instructions for your colonoscopy. Properly emptying your colon is a key requirement for a successful procedure. If bowel prep is not followed exactly as outlined by the doctor, lesions and polyps may not be identified and removed, the whole process may take longer (resulting in an increased risk of complications), and retesting may be necessary.

In general, about seven days before the colonoscopy, you should discontinue some of your medications. The common examples include NSAIDs, iron and fiber supplements, and herbal products. If you take blood thinners or diabetes pills, you should discuss what to do with your doctor. It’s crucial to start a low fiber diet on the third and second days of preparation. Avoid consuming whole grains, raw fruits or vegetables, seeds, nuts, dried fruits, and popcorn.

One day before the colonoscopy, abstain from eating solid foods and consume only clear liquids, including clear broth, tea, black coffee, clear soft drinks or sports drinks, and popsicles. You should also start drinking special liquid laxatives to clear your bowel contents. Continue taking your medications as prescribed by the doctor on the day of your colonoscopy, and avoid drinking or eating anything two hours before the procedure.

How Is a Colonoscopy Performed?

While the patient lies on their left side, with their knees drawn up toward their chest, the doctor inserts a lubricated colonoscope into the rectum and advances it along the large intestine to examine the lining. The scope introduces the air into the bowel to expand it and allow a better examination.

When the colonoscope reaches the point where the colon joins the small intestine, the doctor slowly withdraws it while carefully examining the large intestine again. If the specialist finds any colon polyps during the procedure, they remove them and send the tissue for testing to determine if it’s cancerous. The doctor will slowly take out the tube after the procedure is over.

Colonoscopy Complications

When performed by trained and experienced doctors, colonoscopy is generally a very safe procedure. Complications are rare, but the most serious is a perforation of the colon, which may require surgery to repair. Bleeding from the site of a biopsy or polypectomy is another possible complication. The bleeding usually stops on its own, but the doctor can control it during the procedure using the colonoscope. Complications can cause severe abdominal pain, fever, chills, or rectal bleeding, among other symptoms. While these complications are uncommon, you should notify your doctor right away if you notice them or any other symptoms that concern you. We would be glad to speak with you about this.

Cleaning The Endoscope and High-Level Disinfection to Ensure Your Safety

At Manhattan Gastroenterology, we utilize the Advantage Plus endoscopic reprocessing machine. The ADVANTAGE PLUS™ is a fully automated, computer-based asynchronous endoscope reprocessor that separately monitors each endoscope channel for blockage and proper flow, ensuring complete high-level disinfection. Human error in the selection and connection of hook-ups is eliminated by a computerized detection system. It is a cutting-edge system designed to ensure your safety and the highest level of infection control. The device is placed on a special hanger until the next procedure to ensure that it does not come into contact with any other instruments or surfaces. We go to great lengths to ensure the safety of your procedure.

Six Questions That Could Save Your Life (or the Life of Someone You Love)
Test your knowledge about colon or rectal cancer (CRC) screening. If you think the answer is true or mostly true, answer TRUE. If you think the answer is false or mostly false, answer FALSE. The answers are at the bottom of the page.

1. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.
2. Colon cancer is predominantly a “man’s disease,” affecting predominantly more men than women each year.
3. Only women over the age of 45 who are currently experiencing some symptoms or problems should be screened for CRC or polyps.
4. A digital rectal exam, a stool blood test, a flexible sigmoidoscopy, and a colonoscopy are all used to screen for CRC.
5. A colonoscopy screening exam typically requires an overnight stay in a hospital.
6. Colon cancer is often preventable.

Answers

1. TRUE. Nearly 150,000 new cases of CRC are diagnosed in the U.S. every year. About 50,000 people a year die from the disease. If detected early through colonoscopies, colorectal cancer can be treated and cured.
2. FALSE. Colorectal cancer affects an equal number of men and women. While some think colorectal cancer is a disease that only affects men, proper screening can save their lives. Early detection is the key.
3. FALSE. All men and women, even if they are not experiencing any symptoms, should be screened for colorectal cancer beginning at the age of 45 (or earlier depending on risk factors).
4. TRUE. All of these tests are used to screen for colorectal cancer even before symptoms appear. Beginning at the age of 45 (or earlier if you have a personal or family history of CRC, polyps, or long-standing ulcerative colitis), colonoscopy is the gold standard for cancer diagnosis.
5. FALSE. A colonoscopy exam is typically performed as an outpatient procedure. You’ll be given a mild sedative before our colon specialists gently insert a colonoscope into your rectum to visually inspect the lining of your colon. A colonoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a camera and light at the tip. During the procedure, video from the camera is displayed on a monitor in real-time. The procedure is safe and typically takes less than 45 minutes.
6. TRUE. Colon cancer is highly preventable. Colonoscopy may detect polyps (small growths on the lining of your colon). Removing these polyps (by biopsy or polypectomy) results in a significantly reduced risk of developing the disease in the future.

Important Reminder: This information is only intended to provide guidance, not definitive medical advice. Please consult a GI doctor about your specific condition. Only trained, experienced gastroenterologists like our doctors can determine an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.

Please contact our Midtown or Upper East Side (UES) colonoscopy office for more information about colonoscopy or to schedule a colonoscopy with one of the best gastroenterologists in NYC.