If you are 45 or older, your physician may have previously discussed beginning a colonoscopy to check for polyps. You’ll be relieved to learn that most colon polyps can be removed via a colonoscopy if you already have a colon polyps diagnosis and wish to avoid surgery. Colonoscopies are popular among doctors in part because of this. The growths can be seen with their eyes and may be immediately removed. And very, very few patients need surgery to remove polyps because they’ve become so skilled at doing it with scopes.
For more details, you can book an appointment with a gastroenterologist at the Global Hospital Mumbai through the Credihealth website.
How to remove colon polyps?
Colorectal cancer can be avoided if precancerous polyps (i.e., adenomas) are found and removed before they develop into malignant (cancerous). Small polyps may undergo structural changes and develop into cancer over time. When polyps are discovered during a colonoscopy, they are typically removed, reducing the likelihood that they may develop into cancer.
- Procedure:
Polypectomy is the medical word for the removal of polyps. A colonoscopy can be used to perform the majority of polypectomies. A tool put via the colonoscope and cutting off tiny bits of tissue can remove small polyps. Larger polyps are typically removed by encircling the polyp base with a noose or trap and using electric cautery to burn through it. The cautery also aids in halting bleeding after the removal of the polyp.
Due to the colon’s lining’s inability to feel pain, removing polyps is not painful. Additionally, a sedative is administered before the colonoscopy to lessen any discomfort brought on by the colon’s stretching. Very rarely, a polyp will be too big to remove during a colonoscopy, necessitating a surgical treatment later.
- Problems:
Polypectomy is a safe procedure despite a few potential dangers and problems. The most frequent side effects are bleeding and perforation (a hole developing in the colon). Fortunately, it only happens once in every 1000 individuals who undergo a colonoscopy. During a colonoscopy, bleeding may typically be stopped by cauterizing (applying heat to the bleeding spot); surgery may occasionally be necessary for perforation.
- Medication use:
Before your colonoscopy, you can often continue using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, including aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. The use of acetaminophen is secure. Patients who need to take anticoagulants like warfarin should consult their doctor about when and how to stop taking it.
- Follow-up colonoscopy:
A few weeks following the operation, when the patient is accessible, the results of the tissue analysis of the polyps are discussed to determine whether and when a follow-up examination is necessary. Adenomatous polyp patients are more likely to get other polyps. Three years after the initial polypectomy, there is a 25 to 30 percent probability that adenomas will still be visible on a repeat colonoscopy. Even though they were too small to see during the initial examination, some of these polyps might have been present. There may have also grown additional new polyps.
It is advised to have another colonoscopy after the polyps have been removed. The specific follow-up period depends on several variables, including:
- The polyp’s microscopic features.
- Size and quantity of the polyps.
- Whether the colon could be examined entirely.
- During a colonoscopy, the ability to visualize the colon is essential.
Before a colonoscopy, bowel preparation is required to eliminate any evidence of stool (feces). If the bowel preparation was insufficient, feces might still be present in the colon, making detecting small- to moderate-sized polyps more challenging. If the colonoscopy was inadequate, it should be repeated to guarantee proper visibility.
Screening helps save lives. People regularly screened for colon cancer have a significantly lower risk of dying. Colon cancer can be avoided by adhering to the screening recommendations.
What are larger polyps?
The likelihood of a colon polyp becoming malignant increases as the growth grows. There is a 10% risk that polyps larger than 20 mm are malignant. They must be removed and examined.
Studies demonstrate that a few tiny polyps smaller than 5 mm are malignant.
Removing benign, precancerous polyps as soon as possible is critical because they cause all colorectal malignancies. During a colonoscopy, it is frequently simple to remove smaller polyps. (This process is referred to as a polypectomy.)
Larger polyps, regrettably, can be challenging to remove because,
- Since their arteries are larger, cutting them may result in significant bleeding.
- The removal of large polyps runs the risk of inadvertently piercing or poking a hole in your colon. According to Dr. Gorgun, the excision of polyps on the right side is riskier because the wall of the right colon is much thinner than the wall on the left.
- Some massive polyps are too flat or in an unusual posture to be caught by snares. Others are too large.
How are larger polyps removed without surgery?
Most polyps are removed using straightforward instruments like forceps or snares inserted through the scope itself. Some colon polyps can be treated during a standard colonoscopy. Larger colon polyps are more challenging to remove and call for a professional. Your doctor might advise surgery if a regular colonoscopy screening indicates you have big colon polyps. However, a less invasive endoscopic alternative for treating these colonic growths exists.
Endoscopic submucosal dissection, a highly skilled treatment, can also remove polyps. It is effective for eliminating large polyps and early-stage colorectal malignancies but also needs a lot of experience.
This method can be used to remove any polyp. However, it is often reserved for huge or “giant” polyps larger than 2 cm. These more significant polyps generally develop in the rectum or on the right side of the colon. In colonoscopies, they make up roughly 5% of all colon polyps. These significant growths are benign for the most part.
This specific technique required relies totally on the patient and their particular circumstances. But the coolest part about endoscopic submucosal dissection is that surgeons can cut out polyps from below by penetrating between the muscles and the colon lining.
In this manner, medical professionals can remove massive polyps in a single piece rather than in several pieces. And it’s crucial because there is always a chance that anything could grow back in single or two cells if something is removed in fragments rather than all at once.
Conclusion-
Colorectal polyps are another name for colon polyps, which are currently the second most prevalent cancer fatality in many countries. and typically starts as a “polyp.” A known forerunner of colorectal cancer is the kind of colon polyp known as an adenoma. While some small colon polyps may eventually become colon cancer, most are benign, remain small, and are generally painless.
We highly suggest getting these polyps removed. You can consult with a gastroenterologist at the Global Hospital Mumbai through the Credihealth website for guidance.
FAQs-
How will the finding of colon polyps affect the timing of my subsequent screenings?
You may require more frequent scoping if you have several polyps or if they are big or precancerous. However, it largely depends on the type of polyps discovered and how their cells appear under a microscope.
What one aspect of colon polyps do you like people to remember?
Not all polyps are cancerous. Some merely can mature into it. So that they never have that chance, doctors remove them.
Do colon polyps have any symptoms?
Most persons with polyps are entirely symptom-free.
Are colon polyps and hemorrhoids the same thing?
No, they are different.
