TORRINGTON – Computed tomography (CT) virtual colonoscopies are now available at Banner Health’s Torrington Community Hospital. Torrington’s Community Hospital is the only facility offering this service in western Nebraska and southeast Wyoming, the hospital press release explained. The procedure is minimally invasive, safe and a highly accurate alternative to traditional colonoscopies.

“The technology for virtual colonoscopy has been around for quite some time. It’s not widely used in this region, and I am not sure why,” Levi Keener, Torrington Community Hospital Director of Clinical Operations said. “One of our missions at Torrington Community Hospital is just to provide access to care locally so that patients don’t have to drive elsewhere in order to get it. You get the same care that you would get and have access to the same services that you would in a larger city as you would here in Torrington, Wyoming.”

All of this has been made possible because of the affiliation with Banner Health, Keener explained. Keener also explained unlike traditional colonoscopies, the virtual test requires no anesthesia which reduces recovery time.

“The virtual colonoscopy, it is a relatively simple and non-invasive test,” Keener said. “Something that the patients still have to do is the oral prep, so they still have to have a clean bowel for the test.” 

“We use the same traditional prep that is used for our colonoscopy program here and it’s a very simple prep. It’s not one that’s maybe used at other places where they have to drink the gallon of the liquid in order to get their colon clean,” Keener explained. “Ours is more of a softer approach.”

With the hospital’s procedure, Keener explained, patients don’t need to miss as much work.

“Typically, they’ll start their prep the day before. They can work that day and then they’ll come in the following morning for their test,” Keener said. “It’s only about a 10-to-15-minute exam. After that, they’re good to go and resume their normal activities for the day.”

The hospital’s hope for the new preventative testing was to increase access to treatment and care for the community, Keener explained.

“What makes this test different is there’s no anesthesia involved. Patients are awake for the whole thing. There’s no need for a physician or a nursing team to be in the room, just the patient and the radiology technologist,” Keener said.

“A virtual colonoscopy utilizes low-dose CT imaging to create 3D visuals of the colon, allowing doctors to identify cancer and precancerous polyps with precision,” the hospital’s press release explained. “Unlike standard colonoscopies, the procedure does not require sedation or anesthesia, enabling most patients to resume normal activities immediately after the 10- to 15-minute exam, making it more accessible.”

According to Keener, the CT virtual colonoscopy procedure provides less risks for patients. 

“A small tube, about the size of pencil, is inserted a few inches into the rectum and the colon is filled with medical grade C02. It has an expanding effect on the colon just so we can see everything, so all the folds are expanded and whatnot,” Keener said. “Then we do a series of CT scans and with that, the test is over, essentially. The colon is deflated after that and the patient is free to go. The same day, the radiologist is the physician that reads that test.”

According to Keener, a model of the patient’s colon is then made.

“They will do a 3D model of the colon. So, it looks like a 3D fly through almost so we can see polyps that are just a few millimeters in size and be able to predict if those have a potential to be cancerous or not,” Keener said.

There is a disadvantage to the testing, according to Keener. 

“Now, one of the drawbacks to this test is that if there are larger polyps that need to be biopsied, then the patient will still need a traditional colonoscopy for that,” Keener explained.”

Providing a positive experience to patients with possible with the new method of preventative medicine. 

“We want to be able to get patients in and give them a positive experience with minimal wait time and fast results so that they know if they have colon cancer or are susceptible to that,” Keener explained. “Colon cancer is a silent killer and so oftentimes patients will go without any symptoms for a long time until the cancer has either spread to other organs or it’s too late for treatment and that’s why we preach that early detection is key.”

“Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death among cancer-related deaths in the United States,” Keener said.

According to Keener, the American Cancer Society and United States Preventative Task Force, persons aged 45 are recommended for initial screening. 

“It’s the same for a traditional colonoscopy, as it is for a CT colonoscopy, however if you have family members that were diagnosed prior to age 45 or if they were diagnosed younger in life, then I would recommend that you visit with our primary care physician about whether or not screening prior to age 45 is best for you,” Keener said. 

The tradtional colonoscopy is still a “gold standard” of care, according to Keener.

“It’s just because you can have the sample or take a biopsy of a sample right then and there while you’re in there,” Keener said. “Where this tool comes into place is especially for just people that can’t undergo or don’t want to undergo anesthesia for patients that already have bowel disease that would make them susceptible to a perforation during a colonoscopy. That’s one positive thing to this test. There’s a significantly less chance of a perforation during a CT versus a traditional colonoscopy.”

For more information about CT virtual colonoscopies at Torrington’s Community Hospital or to schedule an appointment, please call (307) 532-4181.