Colonoscopy/Endoscopy

Newbie question: What are some of the reasons why the doctor might order a pre-op endoscopy or colonoscopy?

Who would typically order it, the surgeon or internist?

As far as I know, I have no issues with ulcers, GERD, IBS, etc.

Hi Caff

Even if you do not show symptoms it is still possible that you could have a condition that can be found through the scopes. According to studies obese patients are more likely to have gastroesophageal reflux disease, erosive esophagitis, hiatal hernia (HH), Barrett?s esophagus, esophageal adenocarcinoma, Helicobacter pylori infection, colorectal polyps and cancer, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma than non-obese patients. Since many of these play a role in which surgery is selected it is better for the Surgeon to go in armed with as much information as possible about your digestive system.

Perhaps standard for some surgeons/some surgery types/some BMIs? I did not have either of them. The most "invasive" pre-op test for me was an upper GI.

The most invasive pre op procedure I had was the psych exam!!!! Definitely nothing physically invasive like this.

I didn't have either test, either. I think the VSG people might have had to have an upper endoscopy, but I didn't. I'm not sure if anyone had to have a colonoscopy.

I have been going through all the preoperative testing the sleep studies endoscopy and I initially thought they were all the waste of time because I didn't have any symptoms and of course I ended up diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea so now I've been using a CPAP for a month and was also just recently diagnosed with h.pylori so now I'm on antibiotics for that they just want to test to make sure that there is no underlying issue that will complicate the surgery it seems like there's so many Hoops you have to go through but I realized it's all necessary in the end

Well, I am over 50 so needed a colonoscopy anyway. And i thought the endoscopy was a waste but, had I not the Surgeon would have stopped mid surgery if he found something he didn't anticipate. For me it was a Hietal hernia and something called Barretts Esophagus. It just gave my surgeon a heads up with what he was dealing with. So many of us, as obese patients have so many symptoms and sometimes we have had things for so long we don't even pay attention to. Most of us have some type of GERD or heartburn. it effects the espouses. And I was told, knowing what is going on in your esophagus will have an effect on the anesthesia that is used for your surgery.

I never had any issues with reflux, but it turns out I do have it - learned that in my endoscopy. I wasn't required to do the colonoscopy, but did an at home screening which, so long as it was negative, I didn't need to do the full monty.

Both are standard procedure for my practice - they want to make sure they know what they are getting into when they get in there -- you may have a hiatal hernia you didn't know about that can be repaired while they are there and some esophagus damage can change what/how they do surgery.

Have you had any problems with reflux post-op? Just curious because I have reflux and am pre-op for VSG. That's the one thing I am most nervous about.