Retrospective analysis of the elective tests of rigid proctosigmoidoscopy performed in the service of medical residency in Coloproctology of Hospital Santa Marcelina

Abstract

Introduction Proctologic examination is a deeply intimate procedure which deals with a body area in which prejudices, taboos and constraints prevail, and may also relate to previous trauma; yet this procedure is of paramount importance for the investigation of patients with symptoms that foretell pathologies associated with distal colon, rectum and anus. Objectives This study aimed to analyze all cases scheduled of rigid proctosigmoidoscopy performed by the Coloproctology Service, Hospital Santa Marcelina, in 8 of its 10 years of residency in the specialty. Materials and methods We analyzed mean age, gender distribution, device's height of reach in relation to the anal verge, the percentage of abnormal tests stratified to perform, or not perform, anoscopy and proctosigmoidoscopy, and major diseases detected. Results 844 rigid proctosigmoidoscopy procedures scheduled and performed by the Coloproctology Service, Hospital Santa Marcelina, between September 2006 and August 2014, were analyzed. The distribution was similar between genders and the mean age was 51.2 years. With respect to the device's height of reach from the anal verge, these values were stratified as follows: distance reached >15 cm, 10–15 cm, and <10 cm from the anal verge. Distances >15 cm from the anal verge were attained in 692 (82% of RR) tests, between 10 and 15 cm in 94 (11.1%) tests, and <10 cm in 58 (6.9%) tests. Conclusion In this study, it was found that proctology examination and rigid proctosigmoidoscopy are mandatory procedures in cases of symptoms depending on these practices.