Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: Colonoscopy is an effective tool for the investigation of colorectal disorders, a common health problem in humans. The study aimed to analyze some demographic features, presenting symptoms and colonoscopic findings and colonoscopic interventions carried out in 22 May Hospital, during 2018 and 2019 with special interest on patients’ variables and presenting symptoms regarding colorectal cancer.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of two-year duration, in 22 May Hospital, Aden. Available electronic reports of colonoscopies, during the study period (and corresponding histopathology reports if present) were reviewed. Relevant data were extracted. Descriptive and analytic statistics were performed. To find out association between variables regarding colorectal cancer, Fisher’s exact test were used. The p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: A total of 284 colonoscopy reports were included in the study for 191 males (67.3%) and 93 females (32.7%). The age ranged from 2 to 90 years with a mean age of 44.8 with a standard deviation (SD) ± 18.04 years. Bleeding per rectum and abdominal pain were the most frequent indications for colonoscopy; 47.2% and 14.4% respectively. Hemorrhoids were the most common colonoscopic finding (43.3%), followed by normal colonoscopic findings in 15.8% of cases. Non-specific colitis was the most common histopathologic result (33.3%) followed by cancer (31.9%) of biopsy samples. Cancer detection during colonoscopy has statistically significant association with the presenting complains of constipation and change in bowel habit (p=0.003 and <0.001 respectively).

Conclusion: Detection of colorectal cancer is an important aim of most colonoscopic examinations. Symptoms of constipation as well as change in bowel habit should be handled cautiously and may deserve colonoscopic examination.

Keywords: Endoscopy, Adenocarcinoma, Colitis, Polypectomy, Bleeding per rectum.

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