By Megan Moran

Procedure to examine the a portion of the large intestine (the rectum and colon)

Used to find:

Ulcers

Polyps

Tumors

Areas of Inflammation and Bleeding

Colonoscope

Thin flexible tube

48-72 inches long

Camera on the end

Passed through the anus into the colon

Collect biopsy samples

Remove polyps and small growths

Recommended for cancer screening

Blood test

Determines amount of bilirubin waste in bloodstream

High levels may indicate liver disease

Yellowish metabolic byproduct of heme catabolism

Excreted in urine and bile

Accumulation causes yellowish appearance to skin called: jaundice

Gastric Lavage: aka pumping of the stomach or gastric irrigation

Uses NG (nasogastric tube) to wash out the stomach

Empty stomach contents after ingestion of dangerous substances (drugs, poison, alcohol)

Used to empty stomach prior to surgery

Surgical repair of a hernia

A sac formed by the peritoneum

Sac comes through a hole or weak area in the fascia

Types:

Hiatal Hernia- protrusion of stomach through the diaphragm

Inguinal Hernia - protrusion of a loop of small intestines into inguinal region

Long incision made

Protrusion is pushed back into place or tied off and removed

Weak tissue where bulge occurred is made stronger by stitching health muscle tissue together: herniorrhaphy

Recovery Time

3 weeks to light activity

6 weeks to return to heavy or strenuous activity

Fremgen, Bonnie F., and Suzanne S. Frucht. Medical Terminology: A Living Language. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. Print.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

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