Do surgeons usually perform a colonoscopy prior to surgery?

     My surgeon never suggested I undergo a colonoscopy prior to my surgery on June 28th.  My last colonoscopy was performed in May of 08 while hospitalized.  I did have a flex sig in March.  At my one and only visit to this surgeon, because I was too inflamed to tolerate a Fleets enema, he did look up my rectum with a light and saw the inflammation.  Is this normal procedure? 

yup, it's normal. my surgeon simply took a quick look to make sure i had enough healthy rectal cuff to attach the j-pouch to. at that point he saw how inflamed my rectum was, and made sure i was operated on asap.

of course he also had notes on all the colonoscopies & flex sigs done on me over the years (i had only a flex sig done three months before surgery).

     That makes me feel better .  I just found the results of my last flex sig done in March which showed moderate inflammation in rectum.  My GI doctor took 4 biopsies but I didn't see the results, although I imagine he sent them over to the surgeon's office...at least I HOPE he did.  On the sheet...surprisingly for my GI doctor....he did mention surgery..shock, shock.

Christine,

Your surgeon would have reviewed all your files before accepting you as a surgical patient. They don't just meet you and take your verbal case history and then make an appointment to operate. There's a bit more work to it.

sue

Hi Christine,

I never had a colonoscopy by the surgeon.  5 months before step 1 I had one by my GI and she sent it to my surgeon.