Emergency situations in pathology of the left colon: validity of fibrosigmoidoscopy in differential diagnosis
Gabrielli, F.; Ginanneschi, U.; Fazio, F.M.
Chirurgia Italiana 35(5): 733-741
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-4773 PMID: 6335412 Document Number: 207929
The Authors, although not working in an emergency ward, have performed 30 fiberoptic sigmoidoscopies (FFS) in emergencies on patients hospitalized in their Institutes. The indications for the investigation were: acute bowel obstruction (22 cases); severe post-operative diarrhea (5 cases); massive rectal bleeding (8 cases). In all the patients, FFS, performed immediately, allowed diagnosis of both the type and the site of tht lesion. The Authors believe that fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy, in trained hands, in emergencies can be a valid and safe tool for a quick and sure diagnosis. In particular, as far as acute intestinal obstruction is concerned, FFS can prove useful for the defferential diagnosis between mechanical and dynamic ileus; it is also clearly indicated in order to establish, during the pre-operative phase, the neoplastic or not-neoplastic character of the lesions. FFS should, therefore, be performed every time the clinical data and the direct radiography of the abdomen suggest a left colon obstruction.