Endoscopic Ultrasound (Rectal): Before Your Procedure

What is rectal endoscopic ultrasound?

Rectal endoscopic ultrasound is a procedure that lets your doctor look at the walls of your lower gastrointestinal tract. This rectal ultrasound doesn't use X-rays or other radiation.

The doctor uses a long, thin, flexible tube with a camera and light on the end. It's called an endoscope, or scope. The doctor gently puts the scope into your rectum to the area to be examined. The scope can take pictures of organs and tissues to check for problems in the colon.

The procedure can take up to an hour if a sample of tissue is taken to be tested. This is called a biopsy.

You may go home after your doctor checks to make sure that you aren't having any problems.

How do you prepare for the procedure?

Procedures can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for your procedure.

Preparing for the procedure

• The day before your procedure, your doctor may ask you to do a bowel prep to clear stool from the rectum. You will want to stay home, because the prep will make you go to the bathroom a lot. You will pass loose, watery stools. It is very important to take all of the bowel prep. If you have problems taking it, contact your doctor.
• Understand exactly what procedure is planned, along with the risks, benefits, and other options.
• Tell your doctor ALL the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies you take. Some may increase the risk of problems during your procedure. Your doctor will tell you if you should stop taking any of them before the procedure and how soon to do it.
• If you take aspirin or some other blood thinner, ask your doctor if you should stop taking it before your procedure. Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do. These medicines increase the risk of bleeding.
• Don’t smoke, vape, or use other tobacco and nicotine products. These things increase the procedure’s risks. Your doctor may require that you quit for a period of time before and after the procedure. You have the best chance for a healthy recovery if you quit completely. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about quit programs and medicines.
• Make sure your doctor and the hospital have a copy of your advance directive. If you don’t have one, you may want to prepare one. It lets others know your health care wishes. It’s a good thing to have before any type of surgery or procedure.
• Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get home on your own.

What happens on the day of the procedure?

• Follow the instructions exactly about when to stop eating and drinking. If you don't, your procedure may be canceled. If your doctor told you to take your medicines on the day of the procedure, take them with only a sip of water.
• Follow your doctor's instructions about when to bathe or shower before your procedure. Do not apply lotions, perfumes, deodorants, or nail polish.
• Take off all jewelry and piercings. And take out contact lenses, if you wear them.

At the hospital or surgery center

• Bring a picture ID.
• You will be kept comfortable and safe by your anesthesia provider. The anesthesia may make you sleep.
• You will lie on your left side. The doctor will put the scope in your rectum. The doctor will move the scope into your colon to the area to be examined.
• If your doctor wants to take a sample of tissue for biopsy, the doctor may use small surgical tools through the scope. You will not feel a biopsy, if one is taken. The doctor can also use the tools to stop bleeding.
• You may feel some bloating or cramping after the scope is moved. If you feel a lot of discomfort, tell the doctor.
• You will stay at the hospital or surgery center for 1 to 2 hours until the medicine you were given wears off.

When should you contact your doctor?

• You have questions or concerns.
• You don't understand how to prepare for your procedure.
• You're having trouble with the bowel prep.
• You become ill before the procedure (such as fever, flu, or a cold).
• You need to reschedule or have changed your mind about having the procedure.