A flexible tube, the colonoscope, is inserted through the rectum and travels all the way to the end of the colon and examines a short segment of the small intestine. During the examination, which may be occasionally painful, patient’s discomfort can be eased by breaking winds from the large intestine – flatulence is encouraged in this situation. In abdominal surgery patients and gynaecological patients, the procedure is expected to be more demanding due to scar tissue. The examination takes about half an hour.
