Role of Colonoscopy in Diagnosis of Lower Gastro-Intestinal Diseases

Background and Aims: The human gastro-intestinal tract is a complex system of serially connected organs. Symptoms of gut disorders are often vague such as pain in abdomen, diarrhoea, constipation and signs of abnormalities are few unless disease is advanced because the abdomen contains a large number of different structures within a relatively small cavity. Colonoscopy is useful for diagnostic as well as therapeutic purposes. This study, takes us into the colourful world of colonoscopy to understand various presentations and visual appearances of colonic diseases. Methods and Methodology: 75 patients (45 males, mean age 50 years) were evaluated in the present study after they satisfy the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were posted for endoscopy and findings were tabulated. Results: Colonoscopy was performed on 45 males and 30 females. Most of the patients who underwent colonoscopy were above the age of 40 years. The youngest patient who underwent colonoscopy was 21 years and the oldest patient was 79 years. 31 patients underwent biopsies in our study. of these, 13 were adenocarcinoma, 4 were benign adenoma, 3 were non specific colitis, 2 were ulcerative colitis, and 1 was diverticulosis. 8 biopsies were normal. Of all the75 patients undergoing colonoscopy, none suffered from any complication. Conclusion: Colonoscopy has improved the management of lower gastro intestinal disorders by helping to diagnose the causative factors and thus, help in their management.