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Book in directly for your Colonoscopy

Skip the waitlist and enjoy the convenience of booking directly in for your colonoscopy with a trusted, experienced specialist at two convenient locations in Sydney.

Take control of your gastrointestinal health today
 
Contact us - our friendly staff will be in touch to assist you in booking your colonoscopy
Alexandria Specialist Day Hospital | A Colonoscopy Clinic in Sydney
Gastroenterological Society of Australia | Professional Society of Colonoscopy Specialists in Sydney, Australia
St Vincent's Private Hospital Sydney, a clinic where colonoscopy is performed by Dr Santosh Sanagapalli

How It Works

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Step 1

Get in Touch

Our friendly staff will obtain some of your relevant information by email or phone, answer any queries, and ask you to obtain a referral letter.

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Step 2

Scheduling & Prep

You will select your preferred procedure date and location (St Vincent's Private or Alexandria Specialist Day Hospital), and will be provided with instructions on how to prepare for colonoscopy 

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Step 3

Procedure Day

Attend for your colonoscopy, receive your findings and any instructions for treatment or follow up.

Still not sure? Check our FAQ

Ready to book? Simply enquire online or give us a call!

Meet Your Doctor

Dr Santosh Sanagapalli (BSc MBBS FRACP) is an alumnus of the University of New South Wales medical school. Following medical school, he completed his specialist training in Gastroenterology and Endoscopy at St Vincent’s Hospital and Concord Hospital in Sydney. He then undertook further subspecialty training at the University College London Hospital, UK, one of London’s most prestigious teaching hospitals. He has performed over 1000 colonoscopies and is highly experienced in all facets of diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy. He performs procedures at St Vincent's Private Hospital, Darlinghurst, and the Alexandria Specialist Day Hospital.

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Why Dr Santosh Sanagapalli for your colonoscopy?

No wait

Have your procedure performed within 1-2 weeks

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State of the art facilities at two of Sydney's leading hospitals

Choice of St Vincent's Private Hospital, Darlinghurst, or Alexandria Specialist Day Hospital.

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Highly experienced practitioner

More than 1,000 colonoscopies performed, so you know you are in safe hands.

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No Gap provider

We bill your private health fund directly - no bill payable by you. If you don't have health insurance, we will provide an itemised quote before the procedure.

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Communication

Ensuring you are fully informed and at ease is paramount, and you will be provided with the findings of the colonoscopy on the day. Reports will also be promptly sent to your GP.

Frequently asked questions

General Questions

What does "Direct to colonoscopy" mean?

You may already know you need a colonoscopy - for example, you may have it performed regularly every few years or have already been advised by your GP that you need one. In these cases, you can save time, hassle and expense by going direct to colonoscopy without an extra visit for a consultation prior. Your specialist will still review your history and speak to you immediately prior to the procedure.



Is going direct to colonoscopy suitable for everyone?

Direct to colonoscopy is suitable for most patients who are below the age of 80 and in good general health. When we receive your referral letter, our specialist will check it to make sure you are suitable. If there is any concern, we will ask you to attend for a formal consultation prior to colonoscopy.



Can I attend for a consultation prior to colonoscopy?

Yes, of course. If your preference is to have a formal consultation in the private rooms before booking in for your colonoscopy, then we can certainly accommodate this for you.



How quickly can I have my colonoscopy performed?

We can usually fit you in within 1-2 weeks.



How much will the colonoscopy cost?

If you are covered with private health insurance, then we will bill the insurer directly and we do not require any payment from you (No Gap billing). The anaesthetists and pathology providers that we use are also No Gap providers, so you will not receive any invoices from them either. If you have Medicare but no health insurance, or are an overseas patient with no Medicare, then we will provide you with an itemised quote prior to the procedure, so you are aware of what you can expect to pay.



Where will the colonoscopy be performed?

You have the choice of having your colonoscopy performed at two convenient locations in Sydney - St Vincent's Private Hospital in Darlinghurst, or the Alexandria Specialist Day Hospital.



Who will be performing my colonoscopy?

All procedures will be personally performed by your private specialist Dr Santosh Sanagapalli, a consultant gastroenterologist and accredited diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopist. He is a specialist accredited with the Gastroenterological Society of Australia, and fully accredited by the Conjoint Committee for performing colonoscopy, and is highly experienced having performed over 1000 colonoscopies.



Why do I need a referral letter?

Firstly, so that we can confirm that colonoscopy is appropriate for you. Secondly, so that we know your referring doctor's details so that we can send the reports to them. Thirdly, so that we can bill Medicare and/or your private health fund on your behalf.



About Colonoscopy

What is a colonoscopy?

Colonoscopy is a medical procedure that allows a specialist gastroenterologist to examine the inside of the colon (large intestine) and ileum (final segment of small intestine). The procedure is performed using a soft, thin, flexible tube called a colonoscope. The colonoscope has a high-definition camera at the tip along with a bright light source, which allows your specialist to obtain detailed images of the inner lining of bowels. It is the test of choice for evaluation of the structure and anatomy of the colon.



What are the reasons to have a colonoscopy performed?

There are three main categories of reasons for having a colonoscopy performed. (1) Evaluation of digestive symptoms such as: blood in the stool, diarrhoea, constipation, weight loss, abdominal pain, positive faecal occult blood test (FOBT) or stool test, anaemia or iron deficiency, abdominal bloating (2) For the early detection and prevention of colon (bowel) cancer in those at increased risk due to previous colonic polyps, family history of colon cancer, following successful cure of colon cancer (3) For evaluation or treatment of known conditions affecting the intestines such as: Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis, Angiodysplasia of colon. Diverticular disease



How do I prepare for colonoscopy?

Colonoscopy does require some preparation in order to ‘clean out’ the bowels. Without doing so, it is impossible for your specialist to navigate the colon and get an accurate view. For this reason, it is imperative that you follow the bowel preparation instructions carefully, as the better the quality of the bowel preparation, the higher the quality of examination your specialist is able to perform. You will receive a detailed instruction sheet outlining the preparation instructions, but in essence: - Two days prior to the procedure, you must start consuming only a ‘White Diet’ which consists of a number of easy to process white foods. Not all white foods are allowed - From 5pm the evening before the procedure, you must stop eating completely, and only consume clear fluids thereafter - From the evening before, you will commence drinking the bowel preparation solution. The timing varies based on the timing of your procedure the next day. Often, the last dose of bowel preparation is taken on the morning of the procedure. - Stop drinking clear fluids 2 hours before the procedure and completely fast from this point With regards to your regular medications, in general these should as usual up until the procedure. There are a few exceptions: - Stop iron supplements for one week prior to the colonoscopy - Stop all fibre supplements two days prior to the procedure - Notify your specialist if you are taking blood thinning medications. These may or may not need to be stopped beforehand, but this decision needs to be made on a case by case basis by your specialist.



What happens during a colonoscopy?

Once you are comfortably asleep, your specialist will pass the scope through your anus (back passage) and into the colon. The scope is then gently further advanced all the way to the right side of the colon, and often, into the ileum (final segment of small intestine). The lining of the bowel is washed with water sprayed from the tip of the scope, to ensure that every part can be clearly seen. Minor remaining debris or residue can be suctioned through the scope. The entire bowel lining is closely inspected for any abnormalities. Modern colonoscopes have accessories including a special light filter and optical magnification which can be turned on to allow a highly detailed image to be obtained. If necessary, biopsies can be taken through a channel in the colonoscope. If abnormalities are noted, various therapeutic interventions can be performed at the same time (see below). The colonoscopy ordinarily takes no more than 30 minutes in total.



What are colon (bowel) polyps and why are they important

Colonic polyps are small growths in the lining of the colon (large intestine). Polyps are important because they are the precursor to bowel cancer (colorectal cancer). Bowel cancer is second leading cause of cancer deaths in Australia. There are over 15,000 cases of bowel cancer in Australia each year. As with any cancer, prevention is better than cure, and screening colonoscopy remains the most powerful method to reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer. Colonoscopy reduces the risk of developing cancer by identifying benign but pre-cancerous polyps, and removing them before they have a chance to turn into cancer. The process of removing such polyps is termed polypectomy. Once a polyp is found and removed, you remain at risk of developing new polyps in the future. In this situation, your specialist will usually recommend a repeat colonoscopy in the future, with the interval determined by characteristics of the polyp.



What is a polypectomy?

Polypectomy refers to the removal of colonic polyps during a colonoscopy. The majority of polyps are removed using a wire loop called a snare, which is passed through the colonoscope and carefully positioned around the polyp. The removed polyp tissue can then be captured, collected and sent to the lab for analysis under the microscope.



Will I feel anything during my colonoscopy? Does it hurt?

In short, the answer is no. You may have heard stories of people having very unpleasant or painful colonoscopies, but this is no longer the case with the methods used in our practice. All patients having their colonoscopy performed by Dr Santosh will have a specialist anaesthetist present, who will ensure they are comfortable for the procedure. The anaesthesia used provides deep sedation without the need for general anaesthesia, so is safer. Practically, this means that you will be deeply asleep while the procedure is performed, and will not feel or remember anything.



What should I expect after my colonoscopy?

You will normally wake up within 30 minutes of completion of the procedure. A nurse will be monitoring your vital signs and when he or she assesses that you are ready, you will be moved to a chair and given a drink and light meal. Once you have woken up, your specialist will speak to you after the procedure and explain the findings. You will be advised if a follow up appointment is required to review your symptoms and/or biopsy results, which can take a few days (or longer) to be analysed in the lab. You should arrange for a friend or family member to pick you up and accompany you home. As subtle effects of the anaesthesia can linger, you should not drive, operate heavy machinery or work for the rest of the day. You can return to your normal duties the following day.



Is colonoscopy safe?

Yes. Colonoscopy is deemed a low-risk procedure and is very safe when performed by an experienced gastroenterologist. Nowadays, serious complications are uncommon. Even if such rare complications occur, they can often by treated and controlled using instruments passed through the colonoscope.



Can upper GI endoscopy be performed at the same time as colonoscopy?

Yes, an upper endoscopy (also termed gastroscopy) can be performed at the same time as colonoscopy. No extra preparation is required, and they can be performed under the same anaesthesia. Let our staff know if you need both procedures performed.



 
 

Contact us today to book in for your colonoscopy

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