Proctology

What is a Proctologist?
A proctologist is a Colorectal Surgeon that diagnoses and treats disorders of the anus, rectum, perineum, and the entire gastrointestinal tract.

Common pathologies are:

• Cancers of the anus and rectum
• Polyps occurring in the rectum (they may be non-cancerous but some of them have the potential to become cancer)
• Anal skin tags
• Haemorrhoids or piles which are inflamed anal blood vessels that can swell up and bleed or cause pain if the blood within them gets clotted. Haemorrhoids appear as swellings outside the anus or within the anus and can bleed during a bowel motion.
  • They are caused by chronic constipation and straining when passing a stool.
  • Other causes are pregnancy, obesity, a diet low in fibre, diarrhoea, lifting heavy weights.
  • They can be treated with over-the-counter stool softeners and suppositories and creams. Warm baths can provide some relief.
  • If these treatments fail, then surgery may be needed to remove haemorrhoids.
• Fistulae are abnormal openings that develop between two neighbouring organs.
  • Peri-anal fistulae can occur externally on the buttock and peri-anal area or communicate with internal organs.
  • Many people who have fistulae report having had a boil or abscess that drained by itself and the wound healed but left a small hole that discharges foul-smelling fluid that could sometimes be blood-stained.
  • Rectovaginal Fistula is a hole between the vagina and the rectum, and this allows stool to leak into the vagina.
  • There are many ways of treating fistulae depending on their position and the pathology that caused them.
  • Surgery is usually required.
• A fissure is a small tear that occurs in the lining of the anus resulting in pain and bleeding after having a bowel motion, usually a hard stool.
  • The bleeding is small and stops spontaneously.
  • The pain may last for some hours.
  • Treatment involves the use of stool softener to prevent constipation and pain medication for the relief of pain and addition of fibre to the diet.
  • Topical ointments are available to help heal the tear and relieve pain.
  • If these do not heal the fissure, then surgery may be needed.
• Diverticulosis. This is a condition in which little pouches form in weak spots in the lining of the colon or rectum. Diverticulosis is common, especially after the age of 40 and seldom cause problems.
  • If one or more of these pouches become inflamed, then the condition is known as diverticulitis. Symptoms are abdominal pain, fever, nausea and a change in the bowel habits.
  • Treatment can include bowel rest, a liquid or low fibre diet and antibiotics.
  • In severe cases, surgery may be needed.