24 Mos. Old Having Sigmoidoscopy on Wednesday Dr. Advises No Anesthesia

I seem to recall my friend's daughter having some sort of amnesia-inducing medication that also relaxed her.
I think you've gotten some good advice to get a second opinion.
Good luck,
J.

I am a physician. Take the anesthesia!!! That is cruel to make your son go through that procedure without either general anesthesia or something called conscious sedation where he'll be awake but won't have any recollection of the event. Doing this without anesthesia or conscious sedation is barbaric and borderline malpractice.
Both anesthesia and conscious sedation are extremely safe. What is not safe is holding down a screaming 2 year old who doesn't understand what you are doing. In fact, I think you're at risk for complications (for example, perforation of the colon) if you do not have some kind of anesthesia or conscious sedation.

Absolutely NOT. When I worked in GI way back when, I saw a lot of adult patients, who even when they where sedated (not put under but given sedation) found the procedure awful, if not traumatizing.
I am not one to advocate for general anesthesia for children, just for the sake of convenience, but in this case you should absolutely get a second opinion from a PEDIATRIC GI.
I can not imagine that a pediatric specialist has advised you that it would be ok to hold down your child for 10 minutes while he is trying to perform this. Even if you manage to hold him still enough to get the instrument in his wiggling and possible screaming will result in all kinds of movement and you end up with subpar image quality.
One more thing to consider: if your child manages to get out of your hold even just for a second, the instruments may puncture his colon, which is a rare complication requiring emergency surgery to repair.
Good luck!!

I would ask for a second opinion from another doctor in the same field and see if this is a common practice for a young child, and if so what is the procedure they take to keep the child comfortable and still, then I would compare that to what your current doc has planned. If it still seems to be too much for your child, perhaps your child could be given something to at least make him a bit sleepy, like Benedryl or something like that. Personally, I would like to be "snowed" a little during a procedure such as that, so to make a small child go it without anything does sound barbaric to me, but I am not a doctor. The benefits of having anesthesia may not outweigh the negatives for a child, and there could be reasons why your doctor thinks this is best. Hopefully you can find something to keep your little one as calm and relaxed as possible and be able to bring comfort objects/blanket to help with his fears and comfort. Good luck in finding the cause for his bloody stools, poor little guy!

Adults get sedated, kids should get sedated. I would reschedule this with a doctor who is actually savvy in the ways of pediatric sedation and procedures. If this one thinks that procedure would not be uncomfortable...how many other things does he not know??

When my daughter was 22 months she was going to have a procedure done to check for epilepsy due to two minor seizures she had. It was a half hour procedure where they put electrodes on the scalp and have you sit still for half hour. They only do those at 1 in the afternoon hoping the child will fall asleep during that time. Yah. Right! The hospital said they would not give her anisthesia the pediatrician said they should. The hospital refused to do what the doc said because they believe there is more harm done in the side affects of the anethsisia then the half hour of torture.
My doc could do nothing about it. We refused the test. Thank God she has not had another episode.
I would find out if there is another hospital that will do it with anethsisa. First find out what the side affects are of the anethsisia too.
Maybe you could go middle of the road and give the child something to relax him rather than put him 100% out. Keep asking questions. You are your child's best and only advocate!
Good luck.

This worries me. General anesthesia is too much for this procedure, but conscious sedation is very acceptable. This involves giving the child an IV and medicine that makes him very sleepy and not remember anything, and also wears off quickly. It would be the same class of drug given during colonoscopies. You willnever be able to hold him still enough for this procedure to be done without putting him in restraints.

I just copied this for you. I would get a second opinion or a different Dr. the test is longer than 10, according to what I have read its more like 30. Good luck and do what is best for your child! D.

During the Test

A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy is performed by a doctor in an office, testing center, or hospital.

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You can stay with your child in the testing room until your child falls asleep or the test begins.
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A colonoscope sends images of your child’s colon to a screen.
Your child lies on an exam table on his or her side.
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Your child is given a pain reliever and a sedative (medication that makes your child relax or sleep). This is done through an intravenous (IV) line. Or, your child is given anesthesia (medication that makes your child sleep) by facemask or IV. A trained nurse or anesthesiologist helps with this process and also monitors your child. Special equipment is used to check your child’s heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen levels. Sigmoidoscopy usually doesn’t require your child to be sedated.
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The doctor inserts a colonoscope or sigmoidoscope into your child’s rectum and colon. This is a long, flexible tube with a camera and a light at the end. During a sigmoidoscopy, the scope will only advance through the sigmoid colon.
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Air is pushed through the scope to expand your child’s lower GI tract. Water may also be used to clean the colon.
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Images of your child’s colon are viewed on a screen as the scope advances.
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The doctor may take tissue samples and remove any polyps that are found.

After the Test

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If a sedative or anesthesia was given, your child is taken to a recovery room. It may take 1–2 hours for the medication to wear off.
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Unless told not to, your child can return to his or her normal routine and diet right away.
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The doctor may discuss early results with you after the test. You’re given complete results when they’re ready.

Helping Your Child Prepare

You can help your child by preparing him or her in advance. How you do this depends on your child’s needs.

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Explain that the doctor will be testing the colon and rectum. Use brief and simple terms to describe the test. Younger children have shorter attention spans, so do this shortly before the test. Older children can be given more time to understand the test in advance.
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As best you can, describe how the test will feel. An IV may be inserted into the arm to give medications. This may cause a brief sting. Your child won’t feel anything once the medications take effect.
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Allow your child to ask questions.
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Use play when helpful. This can involve role-playing with a child’s favorite toy or object. It may help older children to see pictures of what happens during the test.

Call the Doctor If Your Child:

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Has a large amount of blood in the stool right after the test or blood in the stool for several days.
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Has a persistent fever over 100.4°F.
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I agree with you assumption that you will not be able to hold him down. In fact I worry about the problems the doctor will have trying to preform the procedure with such an angry, scared, and wiggly little guy. They can be really strong. They use general anesthesia for tonsils, tubes, and even an MRI for a young one. I know anesthsia shouldn't always be used but I would want to put him under. Good luck with your journey.

I don't blame you for being worried about this! Ten minutes would seem like an eternity to me to physically restrain my child for an "uncomfortable procedure." I would ask about other options besides general anesthesia. is there a more gentle sedative? I've heard of "twilight anesthesia" that isn't as deep as the regular general anesthesia.
There is always a risk with anesthesia but I think I would use it in your position. I would want to make sure that they can do the test thoroughly so it only needs to be done once. If your son wiggles around I don't see how they can be sure they get thorough and accurate views and I wouldn't want them to rush. I would also ask if they do use anesthesia will they intubate and put an IV in case of an emergency?

Good luck with everything-