Contents
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
We are brought up in such a way that we consider the physiological needs related to the digestion of food to be embarrassing. We are also shy about the parts of the body related to excretion. No wonder that when we suffer from health problems related to these activities, we postpone the visit to the doctor – a specialist dealing with diseases of the lower, back part of the body. Wrong, because these ailments are the same as any other.
What does proctology do?
A physician – specialist in end-gastrointestinal diseases is a proctologist. The branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of such diseases is proctology. More specifically, these are diseases of the large intestine, rectum, anal canal and anus. These include diseases such as:
– colorectal cancer,
— hemorrhoids,
– faecal incontinence
– anal fissure,
– prolapse of the anal canal mucosa,
– perianal abscess,
– rectal thrombosis,
– genital warts,
– diverticula of the large intestine,
– ulcerative colitis.
These diseases tend to be downplayed or superseded by patients. Only an advanced condition, pain, bleeding necessitates a consultation with a proctologist (a referral from a general practitioner is needed). When should we see a doctor?
Do you have these symptoms? Go to the proctologist
When there is something wrong with the abdominal cavity and anus, there is no reason to be ashamed. But there is a reason to take care of your health. No doctor will ignore symptoms such as:
Abdominal pain
Blood in the stool
Rectal bleeding
– irregular and painful bowel movements,
Constipation
– diarrhea
Gas, feeling bloated
– ulcers around the anus,
– anal itching.
These are symptoms of diseases of the digestive and excretory systems.
What does the first visit to a proctologist look like?
The doctor interviews the patient about his lifestyle (nutrition, physical activity, inactivity, diseases of the closest relatives). He also performs anal and rectal examinations. It is a per rectum examination, which means that the doctor inserts a finger into the rectum to see the inside of the anal canal and the rectum. For many patients, the mere thought of such an examination causes embarrassment. There is no reason. It is a normal professional activity for a doctor.
Diagnostic tests
For an accurate diagnosis, the proctologist may order the following examinations:
— anoscopy (with the help of a speculum, the anal canal and the end of the rectum are assessed,
— rectoscopy (examination of the end part of the large intestine with a speculum, taking a tissue fragment for examination if necessary),
– colonoscopy (this is the most accurate examination, because it concerns the entire large intestine; the examination is carried out using a colonoscope, which transmits the image from the intestine to a computer monitor; if necessary, tissue is collected for histopathological examination, polyps are removed, bleeding is stopped),
– X-ray,
– transrectal ultrasound,
– rectal enema,
– occult blood test.
Not all of the tests listed above are needed for diagnosis and treatment.
Check also: Levator anus – what is it?