Removal of rectal polyps

Tells Marina Logvinova is an endoscopist

Polyps are benign neoplasms, which, according to statistics, in every fifth case have a risk of degeneration into malignant.

The reasons for the formation of polyps can be:

• hereditary predisposition;
• improper nutrition;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• tendency to constipation;
• intestinal dysbiosis;
• intestinal diverticulosis;
• malignant neoplasms in the intestine.

Usually, the presence of polyps in the intestine has no specific manifestations, which makes it difficult to detect them early. However, among the first signs of intestinal polyposis are:

• flatulence,
• abdominal pain,
• constipation,
• diarrhea,
• blood in the stool,
itching and burning in the anal canal area.

In appearance, polyps can be spherical, mushroom-shaped or branched, with a "leg" or a wide base.

In addition, intestinal polyps are divided into:

• Adenomatous (facultative precancer). 75% of such polyps have a chance of malignancy. It all depends on their size and histological structure, so a high-quality histological examination of the formations plays a very important role in the diagnosis).
• Villous (capable of forming a kind of carpet on the walls of the affected intestine during overgrowth).
• Hyperplastic (small, most often formed on the walls of the rectum).
• Hamartomatous (formed by healthy tissues due to unusual combinations of cells, or due to abnormalities in the development of the glandular epithelium).

The presence of any colon polyps is a reason for cancer screening.

Adenomatous and villous polyps are 95% likely to cause colorectal cancer. Cancer can develop within 5 to 15 years. Timely diagnosis of rectal polyps makes it possible to make a timely decision on minimally invasive surgical treatment and prevent the development of colorectal cancer. 

Removal of rectal polyps at the European Medical Center

Colonoscopy is the most informative method of diagnosing polyposis. At the same time, during the procedure, you can not only examine all parts of the intestine in detail, but also immediately remove the detected polyps and perform a biopsy from pathologically altered areas.

In the European Medical Center, colonoscopy is performed only under intravenous anesthesia to avoid unpleasant and painful sensations.

In order to undergo a study at the EMC, there is no need to provide the results of any preliminary diagnosis (tests, etc.). After making an appointment for a colonoscopy, patients receive (in hand \ by e-mail) a memo on preparing for the study. If you have any questions, you can contact the assistants of the endoscopy department. In most cases, the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. After the colonoscopy, the patient is provided with a wake-up room, fasting and observation by a polyclinic nurse, and breakfast.

It is not uncommon for polyposis of the rectum to be found in other parts of the digestive tract. Therefore, if even small intestinal polyps are detected, it is recommended to perform гастроскопии (examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract). At the European Medical Center, this study can be performed simultaneously with a colonoscopy, under intravenous anesthesia.

All neoplasms detected during endoscopic examinations must be removed and sent for histological and/or cytological examination to the EMC's own histological laboratory. This eliminates the oncological process. Timely elimination of even small polyps is the main measure to prevent the appearance of malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

Removal of polyps (polypectomy) is possible in the following ways:

• endoscopic forceps for biopsy (with and without coagulation),
• endoscopic electrosurgical loop,
• by EMR (endoscopic mucosa resection),
• by the ESD (endoscopic submucosal dissection) method.

Rehabilitation after removal of a rectal polyp

After the polypectomy, the EMC endoscopist necessarily talks with the patient and issues a memo that contains some recommendations, such as a slag-free diet for three days, restriction of physical activity, exclusion of thermal procedures (sauna, sauna, swimming pool, solarium).

Polypectomy does not eliminate the risk factors for the formation of new polyps of the rectum. Even if no new growths are found, colonoscopy should be repeated after 3-5-7 years, depending on age, preparation of the colon for examination and the presence or absence of other changes in the colon – personal recommendations can only be given by the attending physician.