Colonoscopy

[Guest guest]

You point to some very important issues. One is the safety of the colonoscopy. To the extent possible we all need to get the facts on the docs who will be handling the procedure (including the anesthesiologist). How many colonoscopies has the doc done, and what, if any, have been the rates of complications.

And then there are hospital-acquired infections. MRSA is one of the worst. There are statistics on hospital acquired infection rates, and those data should be part of the decision process about where to have this done.

Hospitals are doing better but there is a long way to go. Consumer Reports has a hospital safety app for smart phones.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/consumer-reports-hospital/id457622964?ls=1 & mt=8

It is $2.99, a real bargain considering that the information in it could save you suffering and even help you avoid dying.

Jerome

In a message dated 5/6/2012 12:40:03 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, drwalt1@... writes:

I agree that colonoscopy is an excellent screening test. It is not completely safe, given the state of our hospitals, and the incidence of hospital-acquired infections.My sister-in-law's father had a colonoscopy, routine. His bowel was perforated, which was not diagnosed until he was very ill with peritonitis. This required two trips to the hospital with severe abdominal pain before it was diagnosed.Post-operatively, he became very ill with C. Difficile, which never actually cleared up in the two years before his death.After discharge from hospital, MRSA (also hospital-acquired) made him very ill. By the time he had cleared up the MRSA infection, he had a large abdominal hernia at the site of his incision for his bowel perforation surgery. He refused surgery for that, but died, very weakened with pneumonia that he acquired in the nursing home that he was put in, being unable to live at home any longer.If only they would clean hospitals, and wash their hands in between and before procedures, the system would be much safer.

[Guest guest]

It's certainly true that hospital-acquired infections happen, and are serious, but let's keep a bit of perspective here. Guys, I would hate to see this over-emphasized given their low rate of occurrence. Especially when the risk/reward ratio for getting a colonoscopy tilts so clearly in favor of having it done.Nobody really likes getting one, but it seems that some people are clearly totally averse to getting one. I'd hate to see these valid concerns be over-hyped, and end up being the reason someone seizes on to rationalize away their decision not to get one. When it comes to zipping off to Tijuana or Rio to get PMMA cranked into our faces and butts-- we don't seem to have the same worries? WTF? If you really don't want to get a colonoscopy, just don't get one. But let's not kid ourselves about the reason why. We'd be doing a big disservice to some people who might greatly benefit from having one.>> You point to some very important issues. One is the safety of the > colonoscopy. To the extent possible we all need to get the facts on the docs who > will be handling the procedure (including the anesthesiologist). How many > colonoscopies has the doc done, and what, if any, have been the rates of > complications.> > And then there are hospital-acquired infections. MRSA is one of the > worst. There are statistics on hospital acquired infection rates, and those > data should be part of the decision process about where to have this done.> > Hospitals are doing better but there is a long way to go. Consumer > Reports has a hospital safety app for smart phones.> > _http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/consumer-reports-hospital/id457622964?ls=1 & m> t=8_ > (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/consumer-reports-hospital/id457622964?ls=1 & mt=8) > > It is $2.99, a real bargain considering that the information in it could > save you suffering and even help you avoid dying. > > Jerome> > > In a message dated 5/6/2012 12:40:03 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > drwalt1@... writes:> > > I agree that colonoscopy is an excellent screening test. It is not > completely safe, given the state of our hospitals, and the incidence of > hospital-acquired infections.> My sister-in-law's father had a colonoscopy, routine. His bowel was > perforated, which was not diagnosed until he was very ill with peritonitis. This > required two trips to the hospital with severe abdominal pain before it was > diagnosed.> Post-operatively, he became very ill with C. Difficile, which never > actually cleared up in the two years before his death.> After discharge from hospital, MRSA (also hospital-acquired) made him very > ill. By the time he had cleared up the MRSA infection, he had a large > abdominal hernia at the site of his incision for his bowel perforation surgery. > He refused surgery for that, but died, very weakened with pneumonia that > he acquired in the nursing home that he was put in, being unable to live at > home any longer.> If only they would clean hospitals, and wash their hands in between and > before procedures, the system would be much safer.>

[Guest guest]

Dave . . . I can only relate my experiences with colonoscopies with you, so for what it's worth:

In the past I needed a colonoscopy every 2 years because each time I had one, benign polyps were found and removed. Since then I have had 2 good colonoscopies with no polyps, so now I will only have to go every 5 years. My doctor says we will keep it at every 5 years as long as the results are good. I personally think they are important as they are the best way to screen for colon or rectal cancers. The prep is no picnic, but they are coming up with easier prep solutions, so no one should let that stop them from getting them. Thats just my 2 cents worth!

Joe