Diagnostic Role of Colonoscopy in Diagnosis of Colonic Diseases in Rural Setup

Aim: We designed this study to determine the clinical characteristics of patients with lower gastrointestinal pathology and to evaluate the effectiveness of colonoscopy in diagnosing colorectal diseases in rural setting. Methods: Seventy adult patients with symptoms suspicious of colonic pathology like bleeding from lower gastrointestinal tract, mucus in stools, unexplained abdominal pain, altered bowel habits like unexplained diarrhoea or constipation, unexplained fall in haematocrit irrespective of their gender were selected by non-probability convenient sampling from general surgery OPD and general medical and surgical wards. All patients were subjected to fibre-optic colonoscopy after necessary preparation and findings were recorded. Biopsies taken from suspected lesions were clinically indicated. Diagnosis was based on colonoscopic and histopathologic findings. Results:A total of 70 patients (47 males and 23 females) with mean age 45.62 yrs were part of the study. Diagnostic Evaluation of 70 Patients presenting with symptoms suspicious of colonic pathology by Colonoscopy showed abnormal findings in 46 cases i.e.66.71% patients. The commonest diagnosis was nonspecific colitis, which was found in 19 cases i.e. 41.30% followed by colorectal malignancy, Ca colon 12 cases i.e. 26.08%&Ca rectum 6 cases i.e. 13.04%. patients. It was followed by ulcerative colitis 4 cases i.e 8.69%, patients. Other less frequent findings were ileocaecal kochs 3 cases i.e. 6.52% patients and one case each of solitary rectal ulcer and chronic appendicitis.

Conclusion: Colonoscopy has very high diagnostic yield and would be recommended in the workup of patients presenting with colorectal symptoms(e.g. constipation, per rectal bleeding, chronic diarrhoea, tenesmus, altered bowel habits, melaena, low abdominal pain, bloating) not responding to conservative treatment for more than 3 weeks. Have high index of suspicion for colonic malignancy, after age of 50 yrs and patients having high suspicion.