Polypectomy

During a polypectomy, you will lie on your side with your knees drawn up towards your chest as the procedure is done through your anus. A small amount of air is used to expand your colon, so the doctor can see your colon’s walls. (If you are awake, you may feel mild cramping during the procedure.) The colonoscope is slowly withdrawn while the lining of your bowel is examined.  If polyps are discovered, there are several ways they can be removed. The procedure your doctor chooses will depend on the type of polyps in your colon. For small polyps less than 5 millimeters in diameter, biopsy forceps can be used to snip them off. Larger polyps can be removed through a snare polypectomy, when your doctor will loop a thin wire around the bottom of the polyp and use heat to cut it off. Then the remaining tissue is cauterized. If you have a polyp that can’t be removed with either of the two above methods, there are other options. Your surgeon can perform either an endoscopic mucosal resection, when the polyp is lifted using a fluid injection and then removed in pieces, or an endoscopic submucosal dissection, when the polyp is removed in one piece. There are some large polyps that can’t be removed endoscopically and, in those cases, bowel surgery might be necessary. Once a polyp is removed, it can then be sent to a lab where it will be tested to determine if it is cancerous. (The results of these tests are usually available in about a week.)

A polypectomy can be done with conscious sedation, sometimes referred to as “twilight sedation,” or with a deeper sedation using general anesthesia.

In general, severe complications from polypectomies are rare. You should also know that Hancock Regional Hospital has been rated one of the safest hospitals in America by The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit health care watchdog organization; and was named the safest hospital in Indiana on the Lown Institute Hospital Index.

Some of the possible side effects include nausea and vomiting, dry mouth, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, bruising (from the IV), itching, shivering and feeling cold, difficulty urinating, and sleepiness. In older patients, memory loss and temporary confusion are possible.

Polypectomies are used to check for colorectal cancer. Delaying or avoiding a polypectomy may put you at risk for undiagnosed cancer or other gastrointestinal conditions.

Your health insurance provider may require you to get a referral from your primary care provider to see a surgeon about a polypectomy.

You can always get a second or third opinion, but it isn’t required.

Your health history will be compiled and available to the team before, during, and after surgery. If you’re a Hancock Health patient, we will be able to access your records within our system. If you aren’t, we will work with your doctors to get the necessary information.

Consult the Price Transparency Tool at HancockRegionalHospital.org for an idea of how much a polypectomy might cost.

Medicare parts A and B will cover the cost of a polypectomy, but it’s important for your doctor to indicate that the surgery is medically necessary.

As a patient, you play a critical role ahead of your polypectomy through a process called bowel preparation. There are a few different kinds, almost all of which involve consuming a liquid. Your doctor will determine what kind is best for you based on your medical history and their particular preference. Some of these products require a prescription, while others are available over-the-counter. They all have the same goal: to remove everything in your colon prior to the procedure. You may experience some skin irritation around the anus due to the passage of liquid stools. You can prevent and treat this skin irritation by applying ointment to the skin around the anus before drinking the bowel preparation medication.

You’ll arrive several hours before your surgery and be escorted to the preoperative waiting area.You’ll remove all of your clothing and jewelry, and put on a hospital gown. (Your valuables will be placed in a secure area or may be given to a family member.) You’ll sign any necessary paperwork and a preoperative nurse will take your vital signs, review your medications, and answer any questions.You’ll meet your anesthesiologist and the members of your surgery team. An I.V. (intravenous line) will be placed in your hand or arm, so medications—including general anesthesia—can be administered. If you’re using a different kind of anesthesia, you’ll receive an injection.When it’s time for your surgery, you will be wheeled into the operating suite on a stretcher.

In addition to the surgeon, you have an anesthesiologist, nurses—some of them specialize in working with patients and others assist the surgeon—and support staff, who get you checked in and out, compile your records, and more. They all work together, performing their individual jobs, so the procedure is as successful as possible.

Anything you’ll need for an overnight stay, including a change of underwear, a sweatshirt, glasses or contacts, headphones, and your medications. You probably will not be there overnight, but it’s a good idea to be prepared.

You’ll lie on your side with your knees drawn up towards your chest as the procedure is done through your anus. You will feel relaxed and drowsy, due to conscious sedation, or become unconscious, due to general anesthesia.

A polypectomy typically lasts from 30 to 60 minutes.

While the length of a hospital stay depends on each patient’s individual needs, patients are typically discharged within a few hours following the procedure.

After the procedure, you will be moved to a recovery room where you will stay until you’re ready for discharge. The amount of time you are in recovery depends on whether or not you were sedated and what type of pain medication you receive.

You’ll be able to talk to your surgeon immediately after your procedure, while you’re in the recovery room.

In most cases, patients receive pain medication immediately following surgery.

Your doctor may prescribe medications to ease cramping, gas pains, or other discomfort associated with the procedure.

Make sure you have groceries for when you arrive home from the polypectomy. If you live alone, you may want to arrange for a friend or family member to check in with you.

Physical therapy and rehabilitation are not typically needed after a polypectomy. Our associates will help you arrange the postoperative care you’ll need.

There will not likely be any scarring or stitches to remove after your polypectomy.

If you have an emergency following your procedure, call your surgeon’s office. If you’re in need of immediate emergency services, go to the nearest emergency room.