Publication:

Role of colonoscopy in haemorrhoids with other colorectal disorders

Background Haemorrhoids are the enlargement or engorgement of the normal fibrovascular anal cushions. These fibrovascular cushions lose their attachment to the underlying rectal wall and lead to prolapse with repeated straining over time, thinning of rectal mucosa and subsequent bleeding. The objective of the present endeavour was to study the prevalence of associated colorectal lesions like colonic carcinoma, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease which present the rectal bleeding and role of colonoscopy in these lesionsMethods: This study was conducted in hundred fifty patients presenting with bleeding and haemorrhoids were analyzed. All patients were examined locally and endoscopically. All significant endoscopic findings (diverticuli, polyps, cancer, angiodysplasia and varices or colitis) were recorded.

Results Majority of patients were males (102), accounting for (68 percent). The main symptom at the time of presentation was rectal bleeding (90 percent). The digital rectal examination was normal in 114 patients. The commonest finding on proctoscopy examination was haemorrhoids. Colonoscopy showed haemorrhoids in maximum patients (147 percent). The associate lesions with altered bowel habits were growth in 12, worm in 6, solitary rectal ulcer in 3, pancolitis in 3.

Conclusions It can be concluded that in the present study colonoscopy revealed a high proportion of colorectal pathologies with haemorrhoids presenting with bleeding per rectum.  Colonoscopy thus proved to be very useful procedure in patients with haemorrhoids especially in elderly.