Introduction

Colorectal and general surgery has been modified from a traditional approach to a more non invasive means of establishing a diagnosis and identifying early onset disease. Thereafter, management of the condition and symptom improvement can be undertaken in a more conservative manner, which in many common cases, may incorporate simple quality of life measures. We incorporate techniques which identify early disease, thus making it more amenable to a less intrusive method of treatment. It is a form of risk reduction, in that early presentation of disease equates to a more conservative means of managing a potentially complex problem. This is particularly relevant in patients with a family history of colonic problems. Where indicated or required, Laparoscopic (keyhole surgery) is routinely undertaken, which aides recovery and enables fairly complex operations to take place with minor and cosmetically acceptable scars. In the large majoirty of cases, the symptoms that people present with eg rectal bleeding and diarrhoea are associated with benign conditions such as haemorrhoids or diverticular disease. Investigating these conditions through the use of Endoscopy or Colonoscopy can bring about significant peace of mind.

What is it good for?

The most commonly encountered symptoms include rectal bleeding ( blood arising from the back passage), diarrhoea, constipation, painful conditions of the anus including haemorrhoids, fissures, fistulae and pruritus ani (significant itching of the anus), abdominal pain and abdominal bloating. The methods of investigation used are relatively non-invasive techniques such as Endoscopy (a telescope test of the stomach) useful for indigestion and abdominal pain and Colonoscopy (a telescope test of the back passage) particularly useful for rectal bleeding, diarrhoea and constipation. Colonoscopy can rapidly identify a cause and potentially treat it eg, bleeding may be attributable to haemorrhoids (piles) and thus a painless injection or the application of a band can reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes. Colonoscopy is also a means of identifying early colonic disease, which can be relevant in the presence of a previous family history of colonic problems.

What happens in a consultation?

A concise history and thorough examination is undertaken during the consultation in order to establish an accurate diagnosis and then following a recognised pathway, a management plan is initiated.

Preparation and Requirements

Consultation and examination, abdominal ultrasound (scan). Colonoscopy (telescope test of the back passage) and Endoscopy (telescope test of the stomach).