Anaesthesia for a colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is usually performed in specialized medical practices (gastroenterologist) or as an outpatient procedure in a hospital. In the course of the examination, a movable endoscope is inserted into the anus and from there it is advanced along the intestine to the transition to the small intestine. This procedure is generally associated with little pain, but the advancement of the instrument is often perceived as unpleasant.
For this reason, the patient can often receive a sedative (e.g. Midazolam) in combination with an analgesic such as Tramadol via an injection. This combination is called analgosedation. This is a kind of twilight sleep, during which, among other things, no external respiration is necessary, unlike anesthesia.
In the meantime, so-called short anaesthesia with Propofol is also used. The examination is generally considered safe and harmless. It is worth mentioning, however, that the choice of sedation or anesthesia prior to a colonoscopy significantly increases the risk of complications occurring despite the attentive monitoring of so-called vital parameters (e.g. pulse, oxygen saturation, blood pressure) by medical staff.
If the medication used is poorly tolerated, this usually has effects on the cardiovascular system as well as on the lungs. The decision for anesthesia during colonoscopy should therefore not be taken lightly and can still be made during the examination.
