Utility of colonoscopy in detection of early lower gastrointestinal bleeding at a tertiary care hospital.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of the common causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding by Colonoscopy as a diagnostic modality in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Study Design: Cross Sectional Descriptive study. Setting: Department of Gastroenterology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro. Period: March 2021 to August 2021. Material & Methods: This study was performed in Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro in patients presenting with lower gastrointestinal bleeding. History, examination and investigations were carried out. After stabilizing the patient lower gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed. Results: Total 139 patients were included in this study. Intermittent bleeding per rectum was the main presenting complaint followed by continuous bleeding per rectum. The average age of the patients was 45.61 ±16.40 years. Out of 139 patients, 94(67.6%) males and 45(32.4%) females. Bleeding related to internal hemorrhoids was present in 40(28.8 %) patients 30(21.6%) male and 10(7.2%) females as the most common cause of lower GI bleed followed by rectal ulcers 14(10.1%) and polyps in 9(6.5%) patients. infective colitis, proctitis and colonic ulcers were noted in 8(5.8%), 6(4.3%) and 5(3.6%) patients respectively. Malignant lesions in colon and rectum were noted in 8(5.8%) and 3(2.2%) patients while ulcerative colitis, crhon's and diverticular disease were noted in 5(3.6%), 1(1.4%), 2(0.7%) patients respectively. 29(%) had normal clonoscopic examination. Conclusion: In our population hemorrhoid bleed is the leading cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding followed by bleeding due to rectal ulcer and polyps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]