Conclusions and results of colonoscopy at Tishreen University Hospital during 2018

Introduction: Colonoscopy is now considered a routine procedure in gastrointestinal practice, and the current gold standard in diagnosis and evaluation of colonic pathologies. It is the most accurate diagnostic tool of colonic mucosal lesions when suspected clinically or radiologically. Aim: This study will allow to assess the diagnostic outcome of colonoscopy at Tishreen University Hospital in 2018, evaluating the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy and the correlation between indications and outcome of colonoscopy, as well for unplanned events and its percentage. Methods: This is a hospital‑based observational descriptive study that has been carried out in Tishreen University Hospital, Lattakia, Syria between January, 2018 and December, 2018. All patients were approached before colonoscopy, detailed examination and questioning were carried out, followed by the colonoscopy procedure. All endoscopic findings were recorded, as well as endoscopic unplanned events, and total procedure time. Results: A total of 601 patients went colonoscopy (323 males, 278 females), the median age was 55 years with a range of 83 years. The indications for colonoscopy were abdominal pain (33.8%), iron deficiency anemia (26.3%), lower-gastrointestinal bleeding (22.8%), constipation (17.8%), diarrhea (16.3%), weight loss (12.1%), screening (4.3%), and other indication of 16.8% that included search for a primary tumor (4.5%), obstipation (3.7%), and assessment of parametrial invasion of the rectum in cervical cancer (1.5%) Despite the at least 10 major pathologies seen on colonoscopy, normal cases constituted the majority (36.3%). The most common endoscopic findings were hemorrhoids (24.1%), polyps (16.5%), inflammatory bowel disease IBD (11.3%), colorectal cancer CRC (10.3%); 85.5% of CRC were located in the left side of the colon. Diverticulosis were found in 5.5%, infectious colitis in 2.5%, and angiodysplasia in 1.8%. The diagnostic yield was 63.7%. Pain was the most encountered unplanned event that has been seen in 90% of cases, mostly ...