Healthy Living: Local News
Should You Go Under For Colonoscopy?
Tools
Story Updated: Mar 23, 2012
(WKBW/Cleveland Clinic) A mild dose of general anesthesia is typically given to the patient during a colonoscopy, but a new study finds the number of people requesting to be totally sedated
during this procedure is significantly increasing.
Dr. James Church of the Cleveland Clinic says, "A lot of people feel they want to be asleep for the colonoscopy for no other reason than they are scared of it. They're scared of the potential pain, so they just don't want to know. They want to sleep and wake up when it's all
over, but in general, that's not necessary."
Researchers in Boston, who performed the study, say the
biggest difference between going under and using "twilight sedation" is the cost.
Involving an anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist means additional payment.
Researchers say the number of people requesting full sedation jumped more than 20 percent between 2003 and 2009, and many of those patients were considered low-risk.
Doctors recommend trying the mild sedation first and decide if it works for you.