Proctology

Seeing a proctologist for treatment and prevention is normal and not at all shameful. The doctor only strives to help you with the problem as much as you want to solve it. The main thing is to contact a specialist on time, because then the therapy will bring the best result. In addition, at the VIRTUS Institute you can make an appointment with both a female and a male proctologist.
Patients who left reviews about the treatment of hemorrhoids will confirm: our proctologists treat everyone with attention and understanding, and treatment at VIRTUS is not scary or painful.

Capabilities of the proctology department of the VIRTUS Institute

Prevention, conservative and surgical treatment, putting chronic diseases into remission – all these are the tasks of a proctologist at the VIRTUS Institute.
Our proctology department is equipped with everything necessary to perform the most modern, minimally invasive and painless operations.
A special feature of the VIRTUS Institute is the extensive use of regenerative cell technologies to accompany surgical treatment, improve the rehabilitation period and the main therapy of a number of proctological diseases. Cellular technologies have proven their effectiveness in many branches of medicine, but it is in proctology that they have become particularly relevant due to the complexity and delicacy of the field. For example, the gold standard for surgical treatment of hemorrhoids is classic hemorrhoidectomy (removal of hemorrhoids), the recovery period after which is usually long and difficult. But through the use of cellular technologies, we have the opportunity to shorten and make rehabilitation painless.
Unfortunately, few people turn to a proctologist for preventive purposes due to the sensitivity of the topic. Although those who have a family history of colon cancer or polyposis, after 18 years of age should visit a proctologist (coloproctologist) at least once a year for examination and regular colonoscopy.
Regarding diagnostics, at our Institute you can undergo a number of studies necessary for a proctologist to make a diagnosis: sigmoidoscopy, anoscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy.

Treatment of diseases by proctology

Hemorrhoids are the first association that arises when thinking about treatment by a proctologist. At first glance, this is the most common disease, but many other pathologies can be hidden under its mask. Lumps in the anus that hurt during bowel movements or anal bleeding may also indicate the presence of a polyp, tumor, anal fissure or palliative bowel disease, which require very different treatment than hemorrhoids. That is why, when these and other complaints appear, it is worth coming for an initial consultation with a proctologist and understanding what kind of disease we are actually talking about. Therefore, we will consider the main problems that we treat in the proctology department.

Treatment of hemorrhoids

The development of hemorrhoidal disease is strongly influenced by a sedentary lifestyle, an increase in body mass index, and even a history of COVID-19 – which is why a significant part of humanity suffers from it.
Even if you really have hemorrhoids, this does not mean that you need to immediately undergo surgery. In the early stages, it is successfully treated with conservative methods; in later stages, such treatment makes it possible to prepare for surgery or delay it.
We operate on patients with hemorrhoids using both classical methods (hemorrhoidectomy) and modern minimally invasive methods (HAL-RAR desarterization, hardware techniques), which provide a shorter rehabilitation period. If we add cellular regenerative technologies, the recovery period will be minimal and the patient will be able to quickly return to their normal lifestyle.

Treatment of rectal prolapse

With prolapse, the lower part of the rectum stretches and falls out (depending on the severity, this happens during bowel movements, physical activity or any physical activity and even coughing). It is difficult to independently distinguish rectal prolapse from hemorrhoids, so you should contact a proctologist and undergo an examination.

Treatment of anal fissures

An anal fissure is a tear in the mucous membrane in the anal area. It occurs due to constipation or trauma, and is quite painful. If you consult a doctor immediately after complaints appear, you can get by with conservative treatment, but in cases where the crack has already become rough and covered with callus, surgical excision remains the only option.

Treatment of anal polyps

Even a benign-looking tumor can contain malignant cells, so polyps should be removed and sent for histological examination. If the polyps are located in the proctologist’s work area, he will remove them, but if higher in the intestines, this will be an endoscopic procedure.
When diagnosing polyps, family history is very important: people whose close relatives had polyps should visit a proctologist annually.

Treatment of rectal fistulas

Rectal fistula is an inflammatory process in the recess of the mucous membrane of the anal canal, resulting in the formation of an internal opening in the intestine and a fistulous canal in the pararectal space, which extends to the surface of the perineum, perianal or gluteal region. This is, as a rule, one of those diseases that require complex treatment from several specialists (often a proctologist and gastroenterologist), because the causes of the pathology can be different: diseases of the perianal area with the formation of pus, which finds its way into the fistula, inflammatory bowel diseases etc.
At the VIRTUS Institute, we successfully treat fistulas not only surgically, but also using cellular regenerative technologies.

Treatment of pilonidal cyst of the coccyx

A pilonidal cyst of the coccyx is a congenital anomaly in the form of a capsule in the intergluteal region, which can be smaller or larger in size and contains pieces of epithelium or hair inside. Statistically, this pathology is more common in men and may not manifest itself in any way throughout life. But due to decreased immunity, trauma, diabetes and other factors, the pilonidal cyst makes itself felt by pain, discomfort or the formation of a fistula in the coccyx area with discharge or inflammation (formation of a lump and redness).
The epithelial coccygeal tract is easy to diagnose by a proctologist, and treatment is carried out surgically. An option is possible when we first remove the acute phase and wait until the inflammation calms down, and then perform the operation as planned.

Reconstructive operations of the perianal perineal area

The perineum is extremely important, because it is actually a frame for the internal organs. Damage to the perineum can occur as a result of injury (including rupture or incision during childbirth), acute paraproctitis or other diseases. Depending on the cause, the scar that has formed can create not only aesthetic discomfort, but also interfere with bowel movements.
Separately, it should be noted that anal fimbria (excess skin around the anus) that arose after childbirth are the work of plastic surgeons, not proctologists.
Restoring the perineum aesthetically and functionally is not so simple, because there are organs nearby that will also require attention during the intervention. However, we successfully carry out such operations.

Removal of foreign bodies from the rectum

The proctologist’s task is to remove the foreign object as soon as possible, because this is exactly the case when the patient’s delay can cause extremely serious consequences. A foreign body can cause stool and gases to be unable to pass out, resulting in fecal peritonitis and acute obstruction—serious conditions that threaten life. Laxatives are also not the best solution, as this will ultimately lead to an abdominal wall stoma (an external opening through which stool is passed out).

Early diagnosis of colon and rectal cancer

Rectal cancer is one of the most common cancer pathologies in Ukraine. The problem is that, as a rule, patients find out about its presence by chance, when the disease is already at stages 3-4 and the choice of treatment is extremely limited. Although it is worth paying attention to a number of nonspecific symptoms, such as causeless sudden weight loss (about 10 kg in a year – this is already a lot), changes in the shape of stool, bleeding from the anus and abdominal pain, and contact a proctologist or coloproctologist. We are engaged in the prevention, diagnosis and early detection of cancer. This does not mean that the doctor examines exclusively the anus and the beginning of the rectum: if there is a suspicion of cancer, a full examination of the patient and the necessary tests are prescribed that will help detect a problem in the intestines. Today, cancer is not a death sentence: cancer detected at an early stage can be successfully treated.

Services and procedures of the proctology department

Our department now employs experienced proctologists who, among other things, perform operations and treat intestinal diseases, oncological pathologies and complications. The Proctology Department of the VIRTUS Institute offers the following procedures and services:

• comprehensive consultation with a proctologist (including sigmoidoscopy and anoscopy);
• consultation with a proctologist surgeon;
• physical examination and digital examination;
• anoscopy;
• sigmoidoscopy (endoscopic examination of the rectum) – usually this procedure is performed by an endoscopist under sedation, and if necessary, immediately takes material for a biopsy;
• photocoagulation of internal hemorrhoids (1 ring);
• latex ligation of internal hemorrhoids (1 ring) is a minimally invasive surgical intervention, which is carried out using a vacuum ligator, in the early stages of hemorrhoids. We also perform disarterization if a person suffers from heavy bleeding and this can lead to a critical drop in hemoglobin levels;
• transanal biopsy – performed when we find polypoid formations that require detailed examination;
• outpatient surgical intervention (without the use of equipment), category 1 of complexity – if the patient is somatically healthy and his problem does not require a hospital stay or long-term observation, we perform a minimally invasive intervention, after which the patient should come only for dressings and examinations;
• standard surgery (without the use of equipment) is the most appropriate option for patients with concomitant pathologies (for example, diabetes) who need good anesthesia and postoperative care in a hospital. At the patient’s request, surgery can be performed under regional or general anesthesia.

We also perform proctological dressings.

Consultation with a proctologist in Odessa

Consultation with a proctologist is necessary if the patient is bothered by the following symptoms:

• discomfort in the anus;
• itching around the anus;
• pain in the perineum and anus during bowel movements;
• discomfort, feeling of fullness in the rectum;
• abdominal pain radiating to the anus;
• change in the shape and frequency of stool;
• the appearance of blood, large amounts of mucus, pus from the anus during or after bowel movements;
• the appearance of neoplasms in the perianal area;
• sensation of incomplete closure of the sphincter, sensation of a foreign body in the rectum.

During the initial consultation, the proctologist gets to know the patient, asks him about complaints, life and family history. Before proceeding to the anal examination, he takes into account the condition and color of the patient’s skin and mucous membrane.
The next stage of the examination is a quick and informative digital (finger) examination, followed by anoscopy, which allows you to examine 2 cm from the anus to the anal canal using an anoscope. At the same time, so that the patient does not feel discomfort, we use a special ointment.
Having collected primary information, the proctologist selects a scheme for further examination (sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, etc.), treatment, and proposes a date for the next visit. In most cases, conservative therapy is prescribed, which can be either a separate type of treatment or carried out in preparation for surgery. Typically, an initial consultation with a proctologist lasts at least 30 minutes.