Rectoscopy, proctoscopy

• Rectoscopy, proctoscopy is a flexible or a stiff endoscopy of the rectum. It is carried out for diagnostics and therapy of haemorrhoids by means of sclerorisation or band ligator.
• Diagnostics and therapy of other rectal diseases (for example anal fissures, fistulas and anal thrombosis etc)

What does the examination look like and what should I pay attention to?

In some cases, only a partial colonoscopy is needed. To perform it. no special laxatives should be given. To evaluate the bowels, an enema is administered. A sedation injection is not needed as a rule, but can be given as well upon request.

The diagnostics of haemorrhoids is carried out with the help of a proctoscope, which is inserted into the rectum for several centimetres. If treatment with ointments or suppositories is no longer sufficient, the haemorrhoids can be bound with a rubber ring (ligation therapy), which falls off several days later. A small local inflammation develops which heals leaving scars and therefore it prevents blood flow to haemorrhoids. In rare cases, there can be painful irritation or bleedings after the rings fall off.

Alternatively, this inflammatory irritation can occur because of injecting an alcoholic solution near the haemorrhoids (sclerosation therapy).

The examination can be also carried out with a so-called sedative injection. In this case, the patient is asleep during the examination, after that he can have a rest in an anaesthetic recovery room. Due to a special medication (Propofol) there is no long-standing symptoms of drug accumulation as in the case of valium-type preparations. Nevertheless, you cannot drive a car for 24 hours after a sedation injection.