Is It Necessary To Go For Colonoscopy Before Piles Operation?

Posted on Sun, 10 Feb 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 Answered on

Sat, 2 Mar 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : why colonoscopy is required before piles operation? is it mandatory? what is the process actually? is it painful in today's technology?

Answered by Dr. Radhakrishna Patta (18 hours later)

Dear XXXXXXX,

Thanks for your query.

About 10% of patients with piles tend to harbour something ominous in the colon like a cancer of colon. So it is mandatory for everyone who undergoes a piles operation to have a prior colonoscopy. We have seen any number of patients who did not have a colonoscopy and underwent piles operation came back with something more XXXXXXX which was previously undiagnosed.

This process involves passage of a long tube with a camera system through the anal opening and visualising the entire large intestine. This process is performed under anaesthesia and hence absolutely painless.

Hope I have answered your query.

Best wishes

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad