Purpose of Study: For colon problems, colonoscopy is a frequently used diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. Adults with lower GI symptoms such stomach pain, persistent diarrhoea, blood in the rectum, constipation, protrusion from the rectum, changes in bowel habits, iron deficiency, or anaemia are the best candidates for the procedure. Although colonoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing colon neoplasms and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), early detection of both illnesses is still difficult. In order to discover overlooked lesions in routine perirectal and proctoscopy examination and corroborate the findings of ultrasonography anorectal complaints, we investigate in this study the role of colonoscopy screening in patients receiving surgical treatment of anorectal disorders.
Methods: We have included colonoscopies of 96 patients who underwent various surgical procedures at R. D. Gardi Medical College and associated hospitals from December 2019 to April 2021. Data on age, gender, medical symptoms, comorbidities and family history were collected, and a colonoscopy was done prior to surgery.
Results: Colonoscopic examinations resulted in 80 abnormal findings, of which 12 were malignant. Twelve anorectal conditions that would have been missed otherwise were diagnosed among the 80 abnormal findings, including ulcerative colitis, haemorrhoids, tubercular colitis, fissure in ano and Carcinoma colon and carcinoma rectum. The most common symptoms that were significantly associated with abnormal findings were burning sensation or pain in the anal region, blood in stools, weight loss, diarrhoea and family history.
Conclusion: Colonoscopy is emerging as a community screening tool to identify malignancy in a very early stage. Our results emphasize the need to perform a simple out/ inpatient colonoscopy procedure before undertaking any anorectal surgery that may facilitate the early detection of colon malignancies.
