Age Limit for Colonoscpy

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Age Limit for Colonoscpy

Question:

Is there an age limit for colonoscopy? My 93-year-old father was bleeding from the rectum. We got conflicting opinions on whether he should have a colonoscopy.

Answer:

With more and more people living past age 80, the question about when to stop screening for cancer and other diseases has become an important one. It is not surprising that you have heard different opinions. But because your father has had rectal bleeding, colonoscopy would not be considered a screening test in this case, but rather a diagnostic test.

Whether he should have it now or wait to see if he has more bleeding depends upon many factors. Most importantly, he should be given an explanation of why it might benefit him to have the test and what the risks are. If he is mentally capable, he can then make a decision. If his thinking abilities are impaired and he is not capable of making this decision, then his health care proxy will need to decide for him.

The most important question is whether anything found on the colonoscopy will lead to treatment that improves his quality of life. If he is actively bleeding and it can't be controlled, then he probably should have the colonoscopy to try to stop the bleeding. The continued bleeding would make him weak and might require transfusions.

If he is not actively bleeding and the test will not lead to a diagnosis and treatment that improves his quality of life, it is quite reasonable to hold off on doing the colonoscopy for now.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is chief editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications. He is recognized as an outstanding clinician and teacher and is a recipient of the Internal Medicine Teacher of the Year award at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. LeWine continues to practice Internal Medicine; most recently he became a hospitalist after practicing primary care for over 20 years.

Last updated:	July 20, 2009