LOWER G.I.T BLEEDING

ROLE OF SIGMOIDOSCOPY

Abstract

Objectives: 1.To find out the most common cause of lower Gastrointestinal tract bleeding in our
setup as diagnosed with sigmoidoscopy 2 To measure the frequency of colorectal carcinoma with special reference
to age and sex distribution 3. To compare the assessment of findings in prepared and unprepared gut on
sigmoidoscopy. Design: Prospective, descriptive study. Period: Eight months study (January 2002 to June 2003).
Setting: Surgical Unit III, Allied Hospital/PMC Faisalabad. Patients & Methods: 50 cases presented with mild to
moderate lower GIT (Gastrointestinal tract) bleeding and underwent sigmoidoscopy and biopsy and histopathology
reports were studied. Results: The most common cause of lower GIT bleeding as diagnosed by sigmoidoscopy was
non specific colitis(46%) followed by colorectal carcinoma (18%), ulcerative colitis (16%) and a small percentage of
benign rectal polyps, villous adenoma, and carcinoid tumour. Colorectal carcinoma was an important cause of lower
GIT bleeding. In this study most of the cases of colorectal carcinoma presented in younger age group (55.5 % < 40
year age group). Male to female ratio was found to be 2:1. Sigmoidoscopy in unprepared gut had good results as
compared to prepared gut. Faecal matter obscured the vision in any two cases only in unprepared cases. Conclusion:
Rigid sigmoidoscopy is an early and valuable initial diagnostic procedure for the detection of cause of lower GIT
bleeding, especially in a case of colorectal carcinoma, as early detection saves human life in this case.