Sedation-Free Colonoscopy in NJ

You would think. It is an American thing. The cynic in me says that it is because it drives up the cost. Most gastrointerologist web sites say "You vill be sedated and you vill like it!" My primary care doctors will not even answer this question, saying its not up to them to comment on how other doctors do their procedures.

I guess it could be. It might arguably speed up the in-theatre procedure time although lengthen the time spent in recovery. If it's anything like here the endoscopy department is a bit of a conveyer belt.

Sedation may mean the endoscopist doesn't have to make the effort to be particularly gentle with the patient or lose time to those who change their mind part way through and insist on sedation after all. I once went through the prelims with a nurse who was adamant that I should have a canula just in case but I was equally adamant in my refusal.

First time around, my primary care doctor (GP) advised me to have sedation simply because she said some people do find the procedure unpleasant but it really should be up to the patient to decide whether they want amnesia- inducing drugs or not. I certainly don't want to be losing a whole day having to be watched afterwards including not being able to drive all for the sake of a sixty minute procedure (far less for a flexi-sigmoidoscopy).

Keep in mind I'm not a doctor—but I play one on TV: from what I have found in the studies it is actually faster for the doctor without sedation. However, as you say, the doctor has to be more careful without sedation. Which leads to another thing I find in the studies is that there are fewer complications which I why I am going on this hunt.

I wish you luck with your search. Important to get the test done if you are experiencing symptoms which might indicate a GI disorder.

I read that the drugs commonly used in the sedation process include opiates, such as meperidine or fentanyl, benzodiazepines, such as midazolam or diazepam, and/or a hypnotic, such as propofol. Medical facilities must surely have to take account of the fact that some people may have very good reasons why they should or would not put these substances into their bodies unless absolutely necessary. What, for example, do people who have a history of substance addiction or allergies do?

For anyone who has not has this procedure before it's worth looking out for the YT videos by UK TV presenter Lynn Faulds Woods. There are long and short versions of the film. She does have sedation but is conscious throughout. I won't put a link as it will throw this post into moderation. It shows what a straightforward procedure it is from the patients point of view and what a simply procedure it is to remove a polyp which could turn into bowel cancer.

Note that they want to keep her in recovery for 45 minutes afterwards (and will have needed someone to take her home and watch over her for at least twelve hours afterwards. I come out of theatre, have a quick cup of tea and biscuit (very welcome after the fast and bowel cleansing the day before) then drive myself home with no ill effects.

The longest the actual theatre procedure has ever taken was 35 minutes. An earlier flexi-sig had shown ulcerative colitis so the endoscopist was now scoping the whole large bowel to look very carefully to see where the disease extended to (and take several (painless) tissue samples for biopsy) and I wanted to see too. I believe that even if you stay awake but sedated through the procedure you may struggle to recall what you saw but that would depend on the drug used. The nurse's preliminary health checks, form filling, consents etc, getting undressed takes another 15 minutes. Getting dressed and a drink 10 minutes so an hour in total.