Anoscopy

An anoscopy may be useful for complaints in the anal area such as pain, bleeding, itching, lumps or problems with bowel movements. It is used to diagnose and treat diseases of the anal canal, such as external or internal haemorrhoids, anal fissures, anal thrombosis, skin tags or anal eczema.

The examination is usually performed without any prior preparation of the bowel. You lie comfortably on your side while a short, rigid tube with internal light, called an anoscope, is carefully inserted into the anus. This allows the anal canal to be viewed from the inside. Anoscopy is generally painless, and you remain awake throughout the entire procedure.

This examination allows for the direct detection of pathological changes such as external or internal hemorrhoids or inflammatory conditions. If necessary, minor treatments, such as hemorrhoid care, can be performed immediately.

At the upper edge of the anal canal are cushions of blood vessels that, together with the sphincter muscle, ensure the closure of the rectum. When these vascular cushions enlarge into sac-like structures, hemorrhoids develop. 

Hemorrhoids often cause itching, burning, weeping, and occasionally bleeding. An anoscopy allows to determine whether hemorrhoids are present and which treatment is appropriate.

Initially, a conservative treatment approach is usually attempted, focusing on regulating bowel movements and local anti-inflammatory treatment with suppositories or creams. Depending on the findings or in cases of persistent symptoms, rubber band ligation, in which the hemorrhoids are tied off with a small rubber band, may be performed. For larger or more advanced hemorrhoids, surgical intervention may be necessary.