Recto-manoscopy or colonoscopy - what is better and what is the difference
The severity of diseases of the colon and rectum can range from mild to menacing life. Doctors believe that early detection and treatment of these diseases can significantly improve their prognosis. Diagnosis is carried out in different ways. We will understand, what is better - a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy?
These are two endoscopic methods of examination of the intestine, which allow diagnosing various of its diseases.
What is the difference between the methods?
To answer the question, what distinguishes a colonoscopy from a sigmoidoscopy, you need to go a little deeper into the structure of the large intestine. It consists of several sections - the blind, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid and rectum.
The main difference between the sigmoidoscopy and the colonoscopy is the depth of the examination:
- Recto-manoscopy allows you to study the rectum and the terminal sigmoid region to a depth of 25-30 cm from the anal passage.
- Colonoscopy makes it possible to study the entire large intestine. Accordingly, various tools are used for this purpose:
- Recto-manoscope is a rigid metal tool that is inserted into the rectum.
- Colonoscope is a flexible fibrooptic instrument that can be carried throughout the large intestine.
Since conducting a sigmoidoscopy is almost not accompanied by discomfort or pain syndrome, it is much easier to tolerate by patients and does not require anesthesia. Its duration rarely exceeds 5-10 minutes. Preparation for a sigmoidoscopy is not as thorough as for a colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy is a painful examination that is often performed with anesthesia. Its duration can reach 1 hour. Without careful preparation for the procedure, the survey results may not be informative.
Although there are certain differences between the sigmoidoscopy and the colonoscopy, these two methods should not be opposed to each other. They should be used according to indications and in suitable situations.
For example, in diseases of the rectum, it is sufficient to perform a sigmoidoscopy, as it is more easily tolerated by the patient and has a lower risk of complications, and with a higher level of lesion of the colon, colonoscopy is necessary.
Features of the sigmoidoscopy
Recto-manoscopy is an endoscopic method for examining the rectum and the terminal sigmoid. It allows to diagnose the presence of diseases of these organs: polyps, tumors, inflammatory processes.
A sigmoidoscopy is performed with the aid of a rigid metal instrument called a sigmoidoscope. In many clinics, a sigmoscope is often used for the same purpose - a flexible fibrooptic instrument. In this case, the procedure is called sigmoscopy and has a number of advantages over traditional sigmoidoscopy. Conduct a sigmoidoscopy to determine the cause of the following symptoms:
- rectal bleeding;
- diarrhea;
- abdominal pain;
- unexplained weight loss.
Before the examination, the doctor should be told about the presence of any diseases and allergic reactions, about what preparations the patient is taking.
Information on the admission of :
- for the treatment of arthritis is important;
- aspirin;
- blood thinning agents;
- preparations from diabetes mellitus;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- preparations of iron and multivitamins with this trace element.
For qualitative behavior of sigmoidoscopy, as well as colonoscopy, preparation is necessary, including changes in nutrition and cleansing of the intestine. When conducting an outpatient examination, this preparation is carried out at home.
The day before the procedure, you can consume only clear liquids. On the day of the examination, it is not desirable to have something before the procedure. Purification of the intestine can be done with enemas or laxatives. The mode of reception of such means depends on their kind and time of carrying out of sigmoidoscopy.
The procedure itself, as a rule, is well tolerated by patients and rarely lasts long. The doctor enters the rectomanoscope in the rectum and examines its mucosa, revealing all the pathological lesions. During the procedure, a biopsy is possible, after which the tissues are sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope. Sometimes with sigmoidoscopy polyps can be removed.
After the examination, the patient almost immediately can return to the usual life. Sometimes, according to the results of a sigmoidoscopy, a doctor can recommend a colonoscopy or other methods of examination.
Colonoscopy features
Colonoscopy is a procedure during which a doctor examines the colon by using a colonoscope - a flexible and thin instrument with a camera and lighting at the end. With the help of a colonoscopy, ulcers of the mucosa, polyps, inflammatory diseases and colon cancer can be diagnosed.
This examination is performed in the presence of the same symptoms as the sigmoidoscopy. In addition, colonoscopy is used to screen for colon cancer, which allows to identify a malignant tumor at an early stage, when there is a high chance of a complete cure of the patient.
As with sigmoidoscopy, before a colonoscopy it is necessary to tell the doctor about the presence of any diseases and about taking any medicines or supplements.
Preparation for colonoscopy is more thorough than for sigmoidoscopy. If the procedure is carried out on an outpatient basis, the patient needs to be accompanied home after the examination. As a rule, the preparation of the intestine begins 1-3 days before the colonoscopy. It includes a restriction in nutrition and the mandatory use of laxatives.
Since colonoscopy is a painful procedure, many patients need sedation( medical sleep) or anesthesia( anesthesia) during the procedure. This requires the placement of a venous catheter on one of the arms.
After sedation or anesthesia, the doctor carefully introduces the colonoscope into the rectum and moves it inward, inflating the intestine during the examination. The video camera, located at the tip of this tool, sends the image to the monitor.
Gradually moving the colonoscope through the colon to the small intestine, the doctor examines the internal structure of the organ. This allows the specialist to diagnose various diseases, including malignant neoplasms and precancerous lesions.
After reaching the small intestine, the doctor slowly removes the colonoscope from the intestine. As with sigmoidoscopy, during a colonoscopy, it is possible to conduct a biopsy for further study of tissues in the laboratory, removal of polyps.
After a colonoscopy, the patient needs to remain in the hospital for another 1-2 hours. At this time, it can be disturbed by intestinal spasms and bloating. When carrying out sedation or anesthesia, full recovery can occur only the next day, so a person needs someone to escort home and stay with him for the night.
What is better - a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy?
We have already figured out what is the difference between a sigmoidoscopy and a colonoscopy, now let's try to answer the question - which procedure is better.
From a physician's point of view and diagnostic value, a colonoscopy is better, as it allows to conduct a survey of the entire colon and to detect its disease at an early stage. The disadvantages of colonoscopy, in comparison with sigmoidoscopy, are its soreness, duration of the procedure, the need for anesthesia, a higher risk of complications.
From the point of view of subjective sensations of the patient, it is better to have a sigmoidoscopy, since it is not accompanied by severe discomfort and pain, there is no need for anesthesia, the examination takes a little time.
However, objective deficiencies often overlap these subjective advantages. These include a lower diagnostic value of the examination - with the help of sigmoidoscopy, only 25-30 cm of the intestine, starting from the anus, can be studied.
Diseases of the large intestine - a common phenomenon. Their timely diagnosis plays an important role in choosing a method of treatment. This is especially significant in the case of colorectal cancer, in the early detection of which by means of screening, a complete cure of the patient is possible.
In the diagnosis of colon diseases, an important place is occupied by endoscopic methods - colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy. Both these examinations are widely used in modern medicine. For the greatest effectiveness of conducting a sigmoidoscopy and a colonoscopy you need to understand the differences between them.
Author: Taras Nevelichuk, physician,
specially for Moizhivot.ruUseful video about indications and carrying out of sigmoidoscopy
