A Proctologist specializes in treating and diagnosing the rectum, anus, colon, and entire GIT tract. This field of medicine is also known as colorectal surgery. In the US, if you want to become a proctologist, you need to complete the primary surgery residency along with a colorectal surgery course.
Proctology is a terminology related to a branch of medical science, which deals with the entire digestive tract from mouth to anus. The internal organ that comes under this branch includes the esophagus, stomach, colon, small intestine, large intestine, and anus.
As gastroenterologist refers to the medical practitioner deals with disease of liver and gastrointestinal tract. In same way proctologist refers too.
“Proctology” is a Greek word that refers to the anus science, and the term “proctologist” refers to those who are the expert of this anus science.
Proctologists specializing need to meet some specific qualifications, including:-
- A degree of 10th and 12th is needed from affiliated medical schools.
- A medical degree of graduation is needed with general surgical training through an affiliated residency program.
- Need to specialize in treating and diagnosing rectum, anus, esophagus, and lower abdomen.
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What Types of Condition Do Proctologist Treat?
Colorectal surgeons or proctologists treat and diagnose the disease of the lower abdomen or intestinal tract. Patients having a problem with GI tract or intestinal illness need to see a colorectal surgeon. We are providing a list of diseases colorectal surgeons treat.
This article will guide you all about the disease and the treatment that a proctologist could treat.
Anal skin tags
It is the abnormal growth of tissue around the anus. It can cause itching of anus tissue, and you may feel discomfort due to these tiny bumps. They are small in size, and they darken the skin color. Most people want to remove it because they feel pain due to itching.
They develop due to the regular friction around the anus area, and sometimes it also happens due to severe diarrhea.
Hemorrhoids
A hemorrhoid is the swollen veins inside the rectum and anus. In simple terms, it is just another name of piles. Sometimes blood comes out with the stool due to the thin blood vessels and causes irritation.
- Internal Hemorrhoids: – These kinds of piles are inside your rectum, and you are unable to feel them. You can find the blood with your poop and slight pain while passing the stool.
- External Hemorrhoids: – They are just outside the rectum or under the anus skin. They may also cause pain, bleeding, and swelling. Sometimes blood clots in external piles turn it purple, known as thrombosed hemorrhoids.
Rectal and Colon Cancer
Rectal and colon cancer are generally small, and benign clumps form inside the colon or rectum. They appear as non-cancerous tissue, but with time they transform themselves into cancerous tissue.
This cancerous cell causes abdominal pain, rectal bleeding or blood in your stool, persistent abdominal discomfort, and weight loss. If the patient is suffering from any of these symptoms, you must visit a proctologist.
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis is the inflammation pouches that appear around the intestinal wall or at the lining. It can cause cramping on the left abdomen, and blood comes out of the stool.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
IBS is a group of bowel diseases that causes severe inflammation inside the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease come under IBD. These groups of diseases cause diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal pain, and extreme weight loss.
You should visit a proctologist if you are facing severe pain or continuous discomfort around the abdomen area.
Polyps
They are the abnormal tissue growth around the intestine and pancreas further develops into the cancerous cell.
Rectal Prolepses
It is a condition when the large intestine falls from its original place and slips outside the anus.
Sexually transmitted Infection
Proctologists can also treat a group of sexually transmitted infections, including Chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, and syphilis.
Moreover, if you have any medical problem that affects your lower abdomen or digestive tract, you should visit a colorectal surgeon.
When you Should Visit a Proctologist
Most people do not know when they should visit a colorectal and what do they do? When you visit your primary doctor for your treatment, if they find the medical condition mentioned above, they may give a referral or ask them for a referral to a colorectal surgeon if you are facing symptoms given below.
- Irritation in the anal area.
- Itching and burning sensation around rectum or anus
- Frequent pain in the lower abdomen
- Blood with your stool
- Tissue or cell growth around the anus
- Gastrointestinal pain and continuous pain in the lower abdomen
- Bowel incontinence
- Frequent Diarrhea or Constipation
It is important to see a proctologist if you are facing the above symptoms regularly. You have to make him understand the full extent of symptoms and problems. If they do not know your condition, they will take more time to understand your disease.
For a proper or correct way treatment, it is important to speak frankly with a colorectal surgeon. Otherwise, they will take more time to find which type of medication and treatment you need.
Moreover, you may go through several diagnosis procedures or unnecessary medical tests. That can impact your health badly due to delays in proper treatment.
Most people feel ashamed about talking about the problem related to these parts, especially the rectum and anus. We know this is a sensitive discussion. But this is just a regular discussion for the colorectal proctologist because they do these things all the time.
Proctologists are aware of the symptoms and the type of disease of patients. After the diagnosis, they will start proper medication and treatment required for the patient. Most important, they are a well-trained practitioner and listen to their patient with care without any judgment.
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What Type of Procedures Proctologists Perform?
Proctologists are well-trained medical practitioners, and they have good knowledge of performing diagnostic tests and surgical procedures. Some of the procedures are given below:-
Anoscopy
A simple medical procedure performs to view the abnormality in your abdominal tract, including the anus and rectum. This examination involves a small tube-like instrument known as an anoscope. It helps to find various health conditions that may affect the intestine of a patient.
Colonoscopy
It is also a medical diagnostic procedure that detects abnormities in the intestinal region, especially in the colon. Colonoscopy performs with the help of colonoscopy, which is a flexible tube inserted through the rectum. A tiny video camera is present at the tip, which detects the Infection of the intestine.
Endorectal Ultrasound
Endorectal ultrasound is the procedure of taking images of the anal canal. It is helpful in the diagnosis of rectal cancer, fecal incontinence, and intestinal disease. In this diagnostic procedure, sound waves are used to find the image of an internal organ.
Proctoscopy
It is a quick medical procedure to find the sign of colorectal cancer. A slightly longer scope of a particular metal or plastic scope is used to perform this procedure. Here is a hollow tube with a small lens at the tip of the device.
How to Find Proctologist?
To find a proctologist is not a big task. You can take suggestions for a referral from your primary doctor, or you can find it from online portals. Many databases are available on the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery & the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons.
It is essential to feel safe with your proctologist during the consultation to speak about your problems easily. At the starting of the consultation, your doctor should talk frankly with you.
If you are not comfortable with the initially, there are many options available you can change the proctologist. The best way of treatment with any doctor is important to share a good relationship with them.
The Takeaway
Proctologists are specialization in treating the disease of the lower abdomen, including the rectum, anus, and GIT tract. They can diagnose diseases with various techniques and treat them with proper medication and surgery. If you face problems in the rectal, colon, intestine, frequent constipation, you must visit a good proctologist. It is understood asking about rectal disease or pain can be embarrassing. But you must be well aware of the symptoms you are facing. You should know that your proctologist is available to help you, so throw away your hesitation and move forward.
