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What are the risks of removing a polyp?

The risks of removing a polyp are small, but it is important that you are aware of them. There is a risk of about 1 in 500 cases of a tear in the lining of the bowel (perforation) during the procedure. In the majority of cases this is identified during the procedure. It can sometimes be dealt with through the camera, using small metal clips, however in some cases an operation may be required to deal with this.

Bleeding can also occur after removing a polyp and occurs in around 1 in 100 – 200 cases. This is usually minor and can be dealt with at the time of the procedure. However in a small number of cases you may notice bleeding after the procedure (passing blood in you motion). If this occurs you should contact the endoscopy unit or if after 17:00pm seek advice from the Accident & Emergency department or you out of hours GP. If this happens if is helpful if you take your copy of the endoscopy report with you so that the specialist knows exactly what procedure you had performed.

The risk of complications does increase slightly with larger polyps. For these cases you may be given a separate information leaflet or be invited to meet up with a specialist in clinic.

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