What Is A Proctologist?
A proctologist is a doctor specializing in surgery. They are doctors who specialize in surgery. There are several types of proctors: general practitioners (GPs), internists, family medicine physicians (FMPs) and surgeons. All have one thing in common; they perform surgical procedures such as surgeries, operations, or other medical procedures such as tests or exams.
Proctor is a verb meaning “to take out”. When referring to a surgeon, it means to remove something from inside someone’s body. For example, if you had a tooth pulled, then you would say your dentist performed a procedure called pulling out your tooth.
The word proctology comes from the Latin words pro “before” and cetera “things.”
So what does it mean to do a procedure before something else?
Well, the first part of the operation involves removing some material from outside your body. The second part of the operation involves putting that material back into your body.
Proctologists may work with patients who have certain conditions like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis or other health problems. Some proctors also provide services to children and adolescents. Others work in hospitals and clinics where they treat patients who need routine care such as checkups or vaccinations.
What Do They Treat?
Proctologists treat diseases of the colon, rectum, and other surrounding areas of the human body. This includes cancers, hemorrhoids or other growths. They may also treat inflammatory conditions such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
The process of treating patients with these conditions involves several stages. First, the proctologist must perform a physical examination. They ask about the patient’s medical history and perform different tests.
These can include blood testing, urinalysis or stool sampling. Then comes the physical examination. This can involve anoscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, barium enemas or laparoscopy.
What is a Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a medical procedure that allows a doctor to see inside the rectum and the large intestine. It is a plastic tube called a colonoscope which is inserted into the patient’s rectum. The tube has a tiny video camera on the tip which allows the doctor to see pictures on a TV screen. Doctors can use this to look for problems such as cancer or ulcers.
What is an Anoscopy?
Anoscopy is a similar procedure to a colonoscopy where a doctor examines the opening of the rectum and the area around the rectum called the anorectal area. In anoscopy, the doctor uses a short snipped length of clear plastic tube called an anoscope. Lubricant is applied to the outside of the tip of the tube to help it gently slide into the opening of the rectum.
What Is A Sigmoidoscopy?
A sigmoidoscopy is a process by which the doctor examines the rectum and the last part of the large intestine called the sigmoid colon. This is done with the aid of a special flexible tube called a sigmoidoscope. This flexible tube is gently slid into the rectum. A small camera at the tip of the tube sends images to a TV monitor so that the doctor can see any problems in that area such as growths, inflammation or other abnormalities.
What is a Proctoscopy?
A proctoscopy is a medical examination of the rectum using an instrument called a proctoscope. The proctoscope is a short rigid tube with a light and a lens for viewing. It is lubricated and gently inserted into the rectum so that the doctor can see any problems such as an infection, hemorrhoids or inflammation. A biopsy or removal of tissue may sometimes be performed at the same time.
What is a Colonotomy?
A colonotomy is a medical procedure in which part of the large intestine is removed. It is most often used to treat cancer that cannot be treated in any other way. There are two types of colonotomy: right colectomy and proctocolectomy. A right colectomy involves removing the right half of the colon, the terminal ileum (last section of the small intestine) and the appendix. A proctocolectomy involves the removal of the entire rectum and all of the colon. The remaining end of the small intestine is then attached to the exit point, resulting in normal elimination though a stoma in the abdomen (called a abdominal pouch).
“Proctocolectomy and Ileoanal Anastomosis” by Brian Nguyen is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Colonoscopy Preparation
Your doctor will give you specific instructions about your colonoscopy procedure and what you need to do before the examination. These instructions may be different from person to person and your doctor will explain exactly what you need to do. However, as a general rule, colonoscopies are performed after a cleansing process which usually lasts for around three days.
The cleansing process may be done with a special solution called Moviprep or another brand depending on which pharmacy you purchase it from. You will be instructed to drink the solution and then you will need to drink plenty of clear fluids during the next three hours.
Your colon will absorb the fluid and this increases the volume of feces in the colon, making it easier to examine. After three hours, you will need to have a bowel movement. If you do not pass feces, you will be given a gentle laxative to help things along.
Before the actual colonoscopy begins, the doctor may insert a stylet into your rectum in order to inflate the colon slightly and make the examination easier.
What Do You Think?
Colonoscopies are an essential examination for curing and identifying problems with the large intestine, but they are uncomfortable and take a lot of preparation. Furthermore, many people are afraid of the procedure.
What are your thoughts on colonoscopies? Do you think that they should be a mandatory examination before a certain age or perhaps not required at all?
Join the discussion below.
Source:
Sources & references used in this article:
The AEtiology and Treatment of Fibrous Stricture of the Rectum (including Lymphogranuloma Inguinale):(Section of Surgery: Sub-Section of Proctology) by R Bensaude, A Lambling – Proceedings of the Royal Society of …, 1936 – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The role of quacks in the practice of proctology by PJ Gupta – Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci, 2010 – europeanreview.org
Treatment of complex fistula-in-ano with a nitinol proctology clip by A Nordholm-Carstensen, PM Krarup… – Diseases of the Colon …, 2017 – ingentaconnect.com
The Treatment of Disease in TCM: Diseases of the Urogenital System and Proctology by P Sionneau, L Gang – 1999 – books.google.com
