Colonoscopy of the intestine: what it is, preparation for the procedure and what the results show

Colonoscopy is one of the leading methods for examining the rectum in proctology. With its help, dangerous diseases that threaten the health and life of the patient are identified, and some of them are treated.

Despite certain difficulties in its implementation, with proper preparation of the patient and the competence of the doctor, this is enough safe and painless procedure, the implementation of which is recommended for all people over 45 years old, in the absence of contraindications.

This helps to identify in time deviations from the norm and to carry out timely therapy.

How endoscopic research methods evolved

Instrumental methods for diagnosing diseases of the large intestine developed gradually.

In the early stages, their options were limited.

The invention of the rectosigmoidoscope made it possible to examine the patient's rectum, but did not make it possible to move on, because the device was distinguished by its rigidity.

In some cases, radiography helped, but it did not show cancer processes and polyps on the intestinal walls. Doctors had to examine him surgically through small incisions on the patient's body, which often led to the development of complications.

The invention of the sigmoid chamber in the early seventies, capable of moving along a special conductor in the body the patient was allowed to examine the entire intestine, but the blind photographs of such an extended area were uninformative.

In the mid-seventies, a fibrocolonoscope with a flexible tip was invented. This was a breakthrough in endoscopy and allowed the physician to go beyond what was previously available.

The development of a colonoscope model, which made it possible not only to examine the mucosal surface, but also to fix the image in the images, significantly improved the technique. Considering the fact that during the procedure it became possible to take part of the biological material for analysis, then in the field of diagnostics of diseases of the large intestine, there was a significant progress. With proper preparation of the patient's body, which consisted in special slag-free nutrition and use laxatives and enemas to cleanse the intestines, colonoscopy made it possible to qualitatively examine the inner surface intestines.

What is a colonoscopy, what equipment is it used for?

An optical probe or fibrocolonoscope is used to examine the intestines by colonoscopy. Due to the flexibility of the device, it can almost painlessly pass all the anatomical curves of the intestine. With its help, not only a diagnostic study is carried out, but also a biopsy and removal of polyps are performed.

For the behavior of this procedure, a transmitting device is used, which is inserted through the anus. It is backlit to improve visibility inside the intestines. The image obtained as a result of the examination is recorded. If necessary, the doctor can review it again.

Method advantages

The importance of colonoscopy as a method for diagnosing diseases of the large intestine can hardly be overestimated. It is more effective than conducting a virtual examination (MRI), since its reliability is estimated at no more than 80%. If deviations from the norm are found, it will still be necessary to conduct an instrumental study to make an accurate diagnosis, and in some cases, to eliminate them.

Colonoscopy allows you to find polyps, which over time can narrow the intestinal lumen, up to stenosis, as well as, under an unfavorable coincidence of circumstances, degenerate into oncological education.

Modern technology allows, upon detection, to immediately remove and take part of the biological material for histological examination. Another advantage of colonoscopy is the possibility of local anesthesia; general anesthesia is prescribed only in exceptional cases, or at the request of the patient.

Unlike rectoscopy, in which the doctor examines a section of the intestine that does not exceed 30 centimeters, with the help of a colonoscopy, you can get information about the state of the intestinal area much larger length.

Colonoscopy of the intestine: indications, contraindications and side effects

The health of the human body depends on the proper functioning of all organs and systems. Medicine is constantly developing and improving methods for diagnosing diseases that may occur in a patient, including pathologies of the large intestine.

Malfunctions in its work can lead to an imbalance in the entire body, because it is responsible for performing important functions such as the digestion of food, the absorption of nutrients and water, and the excretion of feces masses. Colonoscopy of the intestine is a modern method for diagnosing colon pathologies that can lead to the development of serious complications.

Indications for

The large intestine performs an important task for the whole body, which is to digest, assimilate and excrete food. With excessive loads and improper nutrition, its function may be impaired due to the development of pathological processes on its inner surface.

This can be expressed by the appearance of the following symptoms, which are indications for an intestinal colonoscopy:

• The presence of persistent and prolonged constipation.
• The appearance of abdominal pain of unknown etiology.
• Discharge from the rectum, both bloody and purulent.
• Significant weight loss for no apparent reason.
• Great flatulence and bloating.
• Painful bowel movements.

Colonoscopy of the intestine is prescribed in preparation for some operations, and it is mandatory that it is indicated for patients with suspected diseases of the large intestine.

Contraindications

To avoid damage to the colon, colonoscopy is not recommended for patients with the following conditions:

• Active ulcerative colitis. In this disease of the colon, caused by the interaction of genetic and external factors, the integrity of the mucous membrane is disrupted, which can lead to its perforation.
• Crohn's disease. It can affect any part of the intestine, including the area examined during colonoscopy, and is characterized by an inflammatory process, lymphadenitis with the formation of ulcers and scars. This granulomatous disease has a severe chronic course and is difficult to treat, in particular, treatment is carried out using drug Imukin.
• Having an umbilical or inguinal hernia.
• Pregnancy in women in any trimester.
• Blood clotting problems, as this procedure can provoke bleeding.
• Peritonitis.

Possible complications of colonoscopy after examining the intestines with an endocolonoscope

In some cases, during colonoscopy of the intestine, undesirable consequences occur.

Violation of normal intestinal motility and bloating, which is caused by the fact that air is introduced into the intestinal lumen. This is eliminated with the help of special preparations or a gas outlet tube.

Injury to the anus due to insufficiently accurate insertion of the colonoscope. Unpleasant sensations are removed with the help of analgesics, and to heal the injured area, gels and ointments with anesthetics are prescribed. In most cases, the procedure is painless, albeit unpleasant for the patient.

Diarrhea and defecation disorder caused by using enemas and laxative powder in preparation for colonoscopy, which resolves on its own. In some cases, the doctor prescribes medications to normalize the stool and restore normal bowel function.

Pain and bleeding at the site of removal of the polyp. Another factor leading to complications is oncology, which disrupts the intestinal lumen and can contribute to its injury.

The most dangerous complication of colonoscopy of the intestine is its perforation. This phenomenon is very dangerous, especially if it is not detected in time by a doctor. At the same time, the patient feels severe pain, which is very difficult to endure. In case of poor bowel cleansing prior to colonoscopy, through the resulting hole, feces can enter the peritoneum and lead to its inflammation.

In this case, an urgent operation is needed to suture the resulting hole. In the case of medical negligence, when the damage is not detected in time, everything can end with a resection of part of the intestine, the installation of a stoma, or even death.

The following factors can lead to intestinal perforation:

• Inexperience and low qualifications of the doctor.
• Dystrophic phenomena and intestinal thinning.
• Poor cleaning of the rectum and intestines from feces.
• Excessive bowel activity.

Injury during colonoscopy usually occurs in the area of ​​natural bowel folds, in the hepatic and splenic angles. In this case, it is easy to damage nearby organs: the liver and spleen, which leads to severe blood loss and sometimes removal of the spleen. Therefore, a colonoscopy of the intestine is necessarily carried out in a medical clinic in order to provide urgently necessary assistance in case of complications.

How a colonoscopy is done, why preparation for a colonoscopy is so important

Proper preparation for colonoscopy is very important for a successful study. This will reduce the risk of complications and increase the information content of the procedure. The patient needs to approach her with all responsibility and strictly adhere to the doctor's instructions, who will write down a special diet and take the necessary medications before the colonoscopy. Its result and safety of the conduct depend on it.

Preparation for colonoscopy of the intestine consists of measures that will help facilitate the procedure for the doctor and the patient, as well as increase the information content of the study:

• Preliminary preparation consists in the abolition of iron preparations, activated carbon and bismuth, as well as hormones and cardiac drugs.
• To prepare for the procedure, a slag-free diet is prescribed. Start to stick to her 3-4 days before the date of the colonoscopy. At the same time, the following foods are excluded from the diet: mushrooms, legumes, cereals and grain-containing products, some vegetables and fruits and berries, nuts, dairy products (except for fermented milk), carbonated drinks, fatty meats and fish, canned food and sausage products, as well as smoked meats and pickles. The use of sweets is strictly limited to the permitted list. The day before the procedure, the use of clear broths and colorless liquids is allowed, the use of which ends 2 hours before the start of taking intestinal cleansing drugs.
• Colon cleansing should be done with medications prescribed by a doctor, without vaseline enemas. Stimulant laxatives are usually prescribed. If the patient has prolonged constipation, then their dose is doubled or they are used in combination with osmotic type agents. Bowel preparation is carried out with the help of Fortrans, or cleansing enemas and castor oil are used.

Carrying out the procedure in detail

Patients who are scheduled for a study are interested in how a colonoscopy is done, what you need to be prepared for when going to the clinic. As a rule, the procedure takes place in a separate room of the clinic, equipped with the necessary equipment. The patient undresses and lies on the couch in the fetal position on the left side. The study takes place under local anesthesia, under the influence of drugs with lidocaine. This pain relief is usually sufficient so that the patient does not experience any particular discomfort.

The colonoscope is carefully inserted by the doctor through the anus.

He monitors her movement through the intestines, focusing on the performance of the camera. To increase the lumen of the intestine and smooth out its folds, which simplifies diagnosis, gas is supplied to the intestine, which is felt by the patient as bloating.

Excess air is removed with the help of the apparatus used for the study, through a special channel. The advancement of the colonoscope in particularly difficult areas, where there are physiological curves of about 90 degrees, the doctor and his assistant control by palpation. Knowing how a colonoscopy is done will help the patient stay on top of what is happening and reduce anxiety during the exam.

The duration of the procedure on average does not exceed half an hour. After that, the device is removed and sent for disinfection. These studies are formalized by the doctor in the form of a protocol, in which he gives the patient the necessary recommendations and referral to a specialist of the appropriate profile.

Women should remember that colonoscopy is not performed during pregnancy. With menstruation, it is done only in exceptional cases, it is better to wait until the discharge ends. In chronic hemorrhoids, colonoscopy is not only not contraindicated, but will also help to more clearly see the clinical picture of the disease and determine the patient's treatment strategy.

Colonoscopy of the rectum: what shows what diseases are diagnosed with its help

Colonoscopy of the rectum and other parts of the large intestine helps to examine the condition of the mucous membrane, find neoplasms, if any, take biological material for research and conduct treatment in some cases. It is good if the patient is informed of what the colonoscopy shows, so that he has no doubts about the need for the procedure if indicated.

Despite the presence of contraindications and the possibility of side effects, the benefits of this diagnostic method for maintaining human health can hardly be overestimated.

Virtual diagnostic technologies cannot provide such accurate information as research using a fibrocolonoscope camera.

The patient's immunity depends on the health of the large intestine, since it is formed, in particular, by the microbial flora in it. On a site about two meters long, water, vitamins and amino acids are absorbed. Violations in this organ can lead to a deficiency of substances important for the body and the development of various pathologies.

What is normal colonoscopy?

Although a colonoscopy of the rectum is unpleasant from a psychological point of view, it helps timely detect emerging diseases and cure them, which will help maintain the patient's health, and sometimes even a life.

With the help of colonoscopy of the rectum, all parts of the large intestine are examined for compliance with the indicators:

1. The color of the mucous membrane should normally be yellow or pink, characterized by pallor. If the color is changed, it signals the presence of inflammation or erosion.
2. The shine of the intestinal mucosa indicates a sufficient amount of mucus on its surface. Areas where pathology develops poorly reflect light.
3. The surface of the intestine is almost smooth, the presence of unusual bulges and tubercles is a sign of the development of pathology.
4. The vascular pattern also carries information about the state of the intestine, it should look in a special way, any changes in its pattern should be further studied.
5. The overlays of the mucous membrane should be light, but if they are too dense and have a different color, this is a sign of a possible pathology.