Rigid Sigmoidoscopy

Rigid sigmoidoscopy no longer has the value it had in the past, before the advent of videocolonoscopy (flexible sigmoidoscopy). However, it may be still useful in ano-rectal diseases such as bleeding per rectum or inflammatory rectal disease, particularly in the general practice and pediatrics.

For performing the examination, the patient must lie on the left side, in the so called Sim's position. The bowels are previously emptied with a suppository and a digital rectal examination is first performed. The sigmoidoscope is lubricated and inserted with obturator in general direction of the navel. The direction is then changed and the obturaror is removed so that the physician may penetrate further with direct vision. A bellows is used to insufflate air to distend the rectum. Lateral movements of the sigmoidoscope's tip negotiate the Houston valve and the recto-sigmoid junction.