Pezim Clinic

The most common complication we have seen is the development of transient bowel irritability and inflammation I the colon following endoscopy. This can caused stomach cramps, diarrhea and some bleeding. It occurs approximately once in every 100 patients and lasts for a few days. It almost always clears up on its own. A very short course of anti-inflammatory tablets may be given to speed resolution.

One patient developed evidence of a rectovaginal fistula following a colonoscopy. This patient had a previous rectovaginal fistula in an area of radiated bowel in which there had been an intestinal resection and reanastomosis. There were some symptoms of pelvic pain prior to the colonoscopy and it is not clear whether the increased rectovaginal symptoms following the colonoscopy were a result of the procedure.

* Transfer has occurred for a variety of reasons including transfer before commencement of the procedure due to diabetes control problems, other medical issues not specifically related to the procedure, and problems arising from the bowel preparation and noted by the Medical Director upon patient’s arrival to the Clinic.  Reasons for transfer following procedure include sedation issues, tachycardia, bleeding from polypectomy in one instance.

** Including transient abdominal pain, transient bleeding, bacteremia following polypectomy.  All patients were discharged from hospital in satisfactory condition, without requiring any surgery.

*** Standard North American perforation rates are generally quoted as 1 in 1,500 to 1 in 2,000.

**** No surgeries required.