Sigmoidoscopy is a very unpleasant, but sometimes necessary procedure, which is prescribed to patients with different diagnoses. Persistent abdominal pain, constant stool disturbances, an admixture of extraneous secretions (blood, pus, etc.) in the feces, itching in the anus - these and many other unpleasant symptoms can be an indication for examination. Sigmoidoscopy of the intestine is carried out by introducing into the
anus two instruments: a sigmoidoscope and a rectoscope. In addition, the doctor examines the mucous membrane with the fingers. You should not refuse a painful procedure: sigmoidoscopy is one of the manipulations that allows you to make an accurate diagnosis and prevent the development of incurable diseases. With its help, you can examine the sigmoid and rectum and establish the presence of the following pathologies:
- infectious lesions;
- fistulas of the intestines and anal canal;
- nonspecific colitis;
- hypertrophy of the anal papilla;
- cracks, hemorrhoids, etc.
How to prepare for sigmoidoscopy
For a successful examination, the joint actions of the doctor and patient are necessary. The first is to explain that sigmoidoscopy is a common medical procedure, and there is nothing shameful in it. In addition, the doctor must warn the patient that complications are possible: bleeding or (much less frequently) perforation. After obtaining the consent of the patient, the doctor prescribes him a training course. Most often, it follows this scheme:
- The patient is prescribed a diet that helps cleanse the intestines. For constipation or overweight, nightly enemas may be recommended.
- Two days before the study, some patients are advised to reduce the amount of food or completely refuse it, and use only water.
- One and a half to two hours before the examination, the patient is given an enema. For it, you can use plain or soapy water. Some diagnoses require an enema-free procedure.
- If the patient experiences severe pain, then the injection site can be irrigated with anesthetics before the procedure.
How is the study going
Sigmoidoscopy is a manipulation that can be performed both with the introduction of a sedative drug, and without it. The patient is placed in the desired position (knee-elbow or lying on the left side), the place of introduction of the instruments is isolated with sterile linen. While the patient is breathing slowly and deeply, the doctor uses a palpation to check for blood or pus in the anus. After this, a sigmoid smeared with petroleum jelly is introduced and a little air is pumped (insufflated). Having removed feces if necessary, the doctor can not only examine the intestines, but also remove the polyps, or use tissue biopsies or special brushes to take the tissue for analysis. After removing the device, a rectoscope is introduced and the mucous membranes are examined using a special lamp. During the study, the patient may experience minor pain. However, many patients who underwent sigmoidoscopy agree that the most inconvenience is caused not so much by physical pains when introducing instruments, as by unpleasant psychological experiences.