home Audience 6 Intestinal ultrasound or colonoscopy. Intestinal ultrasound or colonoscopy, which is better and more informative? Preparation for the procedure

Intestinal ultrasound or colonoscopy. Intestinal ultrasound or colonoscopy, which is better and more informative? Preparation for the procedure

Ultrasound and colonoscopy are used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. These are chronic inflammatory processes, internal bleeding, constipation, diarrhea, colitis. Sometimes procedures are prescribed for a feeling of heaviness or a foreign object in the abdomen, adhesions, polyps, as well as rehabilitation after appendicitis removal.

Modern medicine has many methods for studying the human gastrointestinal tract: ultrasound diagnostics (US), magnetic resonance therapy (MRI), computed tomography, virtual and traditional colonoscopy. This article discusses the last two research methods, as those most often prescribed by doctors.

Colonoscopy

Contraindications

Before prescribing an endoscopic examination, the doctor is obliged to check for contraindications, which are divided into absolute and relative.

Absolute

Diseases and factors in which colonoscopy is prohibited:

peritonitis – purulent inflammatory disease of the abdominal cavity;
myocardial infarction;
low blood pressure (below 70 mm Hg);
colitis in the acute stage;
recent abdominal surgery;
artificial heart valve in a patient;
perforation (rupture) of the intestine.

Relative

If the following contraindications occur, the examination will not bring the desired result:

the presence of blood in the abdominal cavity or in the thick part of the gastrointestinal tract;
the presence of diverticulitis (internal protrusions);
umbilical, inguinal hernia;
improper preparation for the procedure;
the patient’s reluctance to subject himself to such examination.

Advantages and disadvantages

No medical device or method is “all good.” Let's list the main advantages and disadvantages.

Endoscopic method

The presence of painful sensations during colonoscopy does not contribute to the popularization of this procedure. Careless manipulation of the endoscope can result in bleeding due to damage to the walls of the colon. The inability to examine the small intestine is another disadvantage of intestinal endoscopy. Using anesthesia significantly increases the workload on the heart and other risks associated with this type of anesthesia. In this case, the patient requires long-term rehabilitation.

The advantages include the fact that the doctor can personally examine the internal cavity of the intestine, having in front of him a full color image. Other research methods cannot do this. Endoscopic examination is a very effective and accurate way to detect pathologies of the large intestine, especially of an oncological nature.

Ultrasonography

Research using ultrasonic waves is safe and painless for the patient. However, the usefulness of ultrasound in diagnosing gastrointestinal diseases is limited by technical difficulties in obtaining images that are as close to reality as possible, since the doctor does not see the real picture, but the result of the reflection of ultrasonic waves. The interpretation of the result depends on the experience and professionalism of the diagnostician. Ultrasound examination allows for better examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract and obtains a more detailed clinical picture, which is not possible when using an endoscope.

What to choose?

Medicine does not consider the advantage of one research method over another. Both methods are successfully used in medical practice. The procedures are not mutually exclusive and are intended to complement each other. Thanks to their combined use, the presence or absence of pathologies is reliably determined.

The choice of examination method belongs to the attending physician, who, after examination and individual consultation, will prescribe the necessary diagnostics. Due to the complexity of endoscopic examinations and the level of pain, it can be assumed that ultrasound examination is preferable at the beginning of the examination. It is reasonable to use an endoscopic procedure to clarify the identified diagnosis, especially if a malignant tumor is suspected.

Ultrasound examination and colonoscopy belong to the group of diagnostic measures for various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Ultrasound is used as a primary assessment of the condition of the intestinal cavity and peritoneal organs. Only after non-invasive research methods are more informative research methods prescribed. Which is better, according to clinicians, ultrasound of the intestine or colonoscopy? Let’s try to figure it out in this article.

Unlike traditional colonoscopy, ultrasound provides a superficial assessment of the middle and lower intestines. The mechanism of ultrasound diagnostics is the throughput of the connective tissue of internal organs in relation to ultrasound. The image is transmitted to the computer monitor screen.

Ultrasound allows you to identify the following pathologies:

Presence of foreign bodies;
Large polyps (more than 2 cm);
Ulceration of the mucous membranes (severe);
Anatomical structures of the intestine;
Cystic components.

Ultrasound can evaluate the thickness of the mucous membranes, the size of the intestines, and the diameter of the lumens in various sections.

However, the method is not without disadvantages compared to traditional colonoscopy, including:

Restricted visibility;
Inability to determine the smallest pathologies;
Inability to perform a biopsy.

Colonoscopy and ultrasound examination have a fundamentally different mechanism. The first consists of introducing a special probe with an optical and lighting device with the possibility of simultaneous removal of polyps, taking a biopsy sample for histology or cytology, and treating bleeding. We have already written more about this in a separate article.

The second involves a superficial study of intestinal tissue.

On a note: ultrasound examination is completely safe and painless, does not require special preparation, and can be used on patients of any age.

Main purposes

It is quite difficult to answer the question about the advantages of ultrasound over colonoscopy, since both methods have different diagnostic purposes.

Ultrasound is prescribed in the following cases:

Primary diagnosis for complaints;
Carrying out a control study after surgery;
Preventive examinations for existing tumors, cysts, polyps (what are intestinal polyps and how to treat them).

Ultrasound is considered one of the safest and most accessible research methods. There is an ultrasound diagnostic room in almost any medical institution.

The ultrasound method is comfortable for patients of any age, and therefore is more preferable at an early stage of diagnosis.

Features of the event

To obtain reliable information from the ultrasound procedure, you should prepare. Doctors recommend being examined on an empty stomach and with cleansed intestines.

Enterosgel,
Smecta,
Polysorb.

The manipulation is carried out through the wall of the abdominal cavity or endorectally with the introduction of contrast and a special sensor.

The technique for performing a complex endorectal ultrasound is as follows::

The patient undresses and lies down on the couch on his back;
Next, he is turned with his back to the doctor and a special contrast agent is injected into the rectal canal (the patient experiences only slight discomfort);
A sensor is inserted into the anal canal and the condition of the intestinal mucosa is assessed;
The study is carried out during the “working” of the contrast and after it is removed from the body.

More information about bowel ultrasound in this video:

note! Ultrasound diagnostics has a number of features:

When examining the colon, an empty stomach and an empty bladder are important;

When examining the rectum, an empty stomach and a full bladder are important.

Diagnostic measures are carried out if there is a suspicion of abnormal development of the intestinal tracts in newborns, a cancerous tumor, fecal incontinence and reduced intestinal motility.

Is it possible to do an abdominal ultrasound after a colonoscopy?

Ultrasound examination after colonoscopy, especially endorectal, is not performed. In rare cases, doctors resort to ultrasound when it comes to removing polyps, biopsies, and stopping intestinal bleeding. Here ultrasound can become a control indicator of the success of manipulations. In this case, an ultrasound is performed through the abdominal cavity.

Ideally, an ultrasound is performed first, followed by a colonoscopy. The advisability of using both diagnostic methods on the same day depends on the clinical history, the severity of the suspected disease and the opinion of the doctor.

Both ultrasound and colonoscopy have many advantages and disadvantages. However, they cannot be fully compared as identical research methods. Ultrasound and invasive colonoscopy are completely different in technique and also have different goals.

If ultrasound is good for secondary diagnosis and monitoring the dynamics of tumor growth, then colonoscopy is the only research method that is used for radical diagnosis and, if possible, simultaneous treatment of certain pathological conditions.

You can make an appointment with a doctor directly on our website.

Be healthy and happy!

Among the functional methods of diagnosing the digestive tract, ultrasound and colonoscopy are considered the most effective, and, as a result, popular.

What is better to choose - intestinal ultrasound or colonoscopy, how these methods differ from each other, for what pathologies are suspected and each of them is used.

Differences between intestinal ultrasound and colonoscopy

The method of intestinal examination is chosen by the attending physician, but it is useful for the patient to know about the differences between the procedures in order to properly prepare for the prescribed diagnosis.

In order to understand why a doctor chooses a different method of examination, you need to consider each method separately and understand how they are carried out, what they show, and what their advantages are.

Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is a method of functional diagnostics in which a probe with a special camera at the end is inserted into a person’s intestines through the anus. It allows you to see in detail the condition of the inner lining of the intestine and the presence of pathologies.

The probe is inserted into the rectum to a depth of one and a half meters. The use of anesthesia is allowed, but in most cases, pain relief methods are not used. Therefore, colonoscopy is rightfully considered one of the most painful and unpleasant procedures from the point of view of both physical and moral sensations.

Colonoscopy combines both diagnostic and therapeutic functions. That is, the doctor gets the opportunity not only to detect intestinal pathology, but also to immediately carry out treatment during the procedure:

remove polyp;
produce coagulation of blood vessels;
eliminate volvulus.

The possibility of performing a tissue biopsy followed by histological examination plays a significant role in the diagnosis of oncological tumors.

Before a colonoscopy, you need to prepare:

For three days before the procedure, you need to change your diet, eliminating all foods that can cause increased gas formation: beans, baked goods, cabbage, alcohol.
24 hours before visiting the clinic, you need to switch to liquid nutrition, drinking only water, tea, broth.
Immediately before the colonoscopy you need to do a cleansing enema.

What does a colonoscopy show?

Using visualization of the intestinal mucosa during colonoscopy, the doctor evaluates indicators such as color, vascular pattern, the presence of formations and overlays on the mucosa.

Thus, colonoscopy allows us to identify the following pathologies:

Intestinal polyposis	The danger of polyposis lies in the possibility of degeneration of formations into malignant ones. Symptoms of the disease are usually mild, so colonoscopy is the only reliable way to detect pathology.
Oncological neoplasms	One of the most dangerous forms of cancer, in which symptoms in most cases appear only at the 4th, incurable stage.
Ulcerative colitis	In severe forms of the disease, there is a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood, fever, and disruption of the heart and kidneys.
Diverticula	Formations on the walls of the large and small intestines provoke internal bleeding and abdominal pain. The disease occurs in a latent form for a long time.
Intestinal tuberculosis	Damage to the intestinal walls of infectious origin with the formation of granulomas and fibrous tissue.
Crohn's disease	A disease whose course is similar to the clinical picture of intestinal tuberculosis, but the causes of Crohn's disease are unknown.

Thus, all the described pathologies have a chance of cure with timely diagnosis. Therefore, colonoscopy is an important method of medical examination both for identifying the disease with existing symptoms and for preventive purposes.

Advantages of colonoscopy over intestinal ultrasound

The main advantage of a diagnostic method such as colonoscopy is the maximum accuracy of the data obtained. In addition, as mentioned above, treatment can be carried out directly during the procedure.

Colonoscopy allows you to detect cancer in the intestinal tract even at an early stage. A preventative procedure once every ten years would significantly reduce the number of cancer deaths.

Ultrasound of the intestine

Ultrasound examination of the intestine is a diagnostic method that can be performed either abdominally, through the anterior wall of the abdomen, or rectally, by inserting the device into the intestine through the anus.

Before the ultrasound you also need to prepare:

As before a colonoscopy, you need to adjust the menu, eliminating all foods that lead to bloating.
Within a few hours, you need to do an enema and completely empty your bowels.

Ultrasound of the intestines is performed in two stages. First, the doctor examines the empty intestine, then water is poured through the rectal opening, which plays the role of contrast in ultrasound diagnostics. This method is called intestinal hydrosonography.

What does an intestinal ultrasound show?

After the liquid, which acts as a contrast agent, is poured into the intestine, the intestinal walls straighten, and the doctor sees their outlines on the monitor of the ultrasound device:

mucous inner wall (medium echogenicity);
external muscular (hypoechoic).

The doctor should evaluate the echogenicity of both layers and how evenly the fluid fills the intestines. Thus, with the help of ultrasound, the doctor can detect signs of:

diseases detected during colonoscopy (neoplastic tumors, tuberculosis, diverticula);
fluid in the abdominal cavity;
abscesses;
cyst;
hematoma;
intestinal ischemia;
anomalies in the location of the organ.

With the help of modern ultrasound machines, it is possible to detect pathologies at almost any stage, and even notice deviations in the development of the fetus of a pregnant woman.

Advantages of intestinal ultrasound over colonoscopy

Ultrasound is a fast, painless and highly accurate diagnostic procedure.

Children and older people may have difficulty undergoing colonoscopy, so for them ultrasound is the best way to diagnose diseases of the lower digestive tract.
There are no contraindications for ultrasound, unlike colonoscopy, which is prohibited for heavy bleeding, hernias, and diverticula.
And finally, ultrasound diagnostics is the only way to examine the upper parts of the intestine, which a colonoscopy probe cannot reach.

Ultrasound colonoscopy is a relatively new examination method in which a special ultrasound probe is inserted into the rectal opening. The sensor readings are visualized on the device monitor, where the doctor can assess the structure of the intestinal walls and the presence of tumors.

Technically, the technique is carried out in the same way as a regular colonoscopy; it requires similar preparation: diet and bowel cleansing with an enema.

Which is better: ultrasound of the intestine or colonoscopy?

It is difficult to say exactly which examination technique is better. Both procedures are prescribed for suspected cases of almost the same list of diseases. But the final choice is made by the attending physician, based on:

symptomatic picture;
contraindications to diagnostic procedures;
concomitant diseases;
patient's age.

In some cases, the choice of only one examination method is justified: for example, if it is necessary to check the small intestine, colonoscopy will not be able to help, but ultrasound in this case will establish the presence of a disease in the organ. However, when examining the lower intestine, colonoscopy will be the most accurate and informative diagnostic method.

If it is difficult to choose between diagnostic methods, you can resort to a method called ultrasound colonoscopy, which combines the advantages of both procedures.

Intestinal ultrasound and colonoscopy are one of the most commonly used modern methods for diagnosing diseases of the digestive system. They are quite effective and, often, it is on the basis of the results of these examinations that the patient is given a final diagnosis. But which method is better?

Indications for procedures

Indications for intestinal ultrasound and colonoscopy are similar. These diagnostic methods are prescribed to assess the condition of an organ if the presence of any of its pathologies is suspected. First of all, we are talking about:

about neoplasms;
about inflammatory processes;
about the presence of one or more symptoms: internal bleeding, constipation, feeling of a foreign body inside the abdomen;
about rehabilitation after appendicitis;
about colitis, etc.

For diagnosing a number of diseases, colonoscopy can be more effective and informative. In addition, this method in some cases allows, if polyps or small tumors are detected, to be removed immediately, without surgical intervention. Ultrasound does not provide this.

Procedure process

Most patients are accustomed to the fact that ultrasound only involves the operation of the device “from the outside”, without introducing it into the body. This is how the heart, liver, kidneys, bladder, female genital organs, etc. are examined. In the case of intestinal ultrasound, the situation is different. A catheter with a diameter of only about 7–8 mm to a depth of 5 cm is first inserted into the patient’s body. Through it, liquid enters the intestine, which acts as a contrast during the study and allows a better view of the organ. In all other respects, the procedure does not feel different from ultrasound of other organs.

Colonoscopy is a much more unpleasant, and in some cases even truly painful, procedure. This examination involves inserting an endoscope - a flexible tourniquet with an optical system - into the intestine through the anus. It is logical that the sensations during a colonoscopy are not pleasant - they are much more painful than during an ultrasound. In addition, an ultrasound scan will not take longer than 10 to 15 minutes, while a colonoscopy can take from 20 to 60 minutes.

Features of preparation for research

In this regard, the methods are also similar. At least 3 days before the examination, it is necessary to follow a special diet that will avoid increased gas formation and constipation. The day before the examination, dinner is replaced with a light snack until 18:00 and a cleansing enema is given.

Contraindications

There are differences between the methods here. There are no absolute contraindications for intestinal ultrasound. However, this method is not recommended in the presence of open wounds in the abdomen, as well as in the near future after colonoscopy, irrigography or gastrography.

Colonoscopy has a number of significant contraindications. These include infectious diseases in the acute stage, severe diseases of the lungs and heart, problems with blood clotting, ulcerative and ischemic colitis, and peritonitis. In addition, the method is not applicable to patients with a low pain threshold and with diseases of the anus.

Colon ultrasound or colonoscopy?

As already mentioned, colonoscopy is considered a more informative and accurate diagnostic method. In favor of ultrasound, we can say that this technique allows you to examine the intestines absolutely safely and non-invasively. It is used repeatedly if necessary, and is recommended for newborns and pregnant women.

Speaking of sensations, of course, it is impossible to compare methods. It is logical that the insertion of a small catheter with a diameter of less than a centimeter is much less unpleasant than the insertion of a fairly wide, albeit flexible, tube. Taking into account the painfulness of colonoscopy, it is rarely prescribed to frail patients or elderly people. It is better to carry out other diagnostic methods before scheduling a colonoscopy to make sure that this unpleasant procedure is necessary.

The decision about what is best for a particular patient can only be made by the attending physician, based on the picture of the disease, medical history and life of the patient, taking into account the individual characteristics of his body. Do not self-medicate; consultation with a specialist guarantees the correctly chosen diagnostic method and correct treatment!

The gastroenterologist decides which diagnostic method to choose. But the patient has the right to know how some research methods differ from others. Only a doctor can tell you which is better, more informative and safer: ultrasound of the intestines or colonoscopy.

Like ultrasound, colonoscopy allows you to examine the condition of the intestines

In this article you will learn:

What is ultrasound

Ultrasound examination is a diagnostic method in which ultrasonic waves emitted by a sensor penetrate the human body and return, like an echo, modified. The sound waves are converted into a digital image and produce a picture on the monitor. The sensor contains crystals that emit and receive sound waves. Ultrasound is considered to be a non-invasive method, that is, a study without penetration into the body.

Ultrasound of the intestine is performed using the transabdominal method, that is, through the abdominal wall and (or) transrectal method, that is, by inserting a sensor into the rectum. The transvaginal method is no less informative. It allows you to bring the sensor closer to the intestines and fully examine it.

Ultrasound of the intestine is performed through the abdominal wall

What is the essence of colonoscopy?

Colonoscopy, on the contrary, is an invasive examination method. This is an endoscopy, an examination of the large intestine from the inside. It is carried out by inserting an endoscope on a thin hose into the rectum. During a colonoscopy, the endoscope can be inserted into the intestines to a depth of 2 meters.

To straighten the intestinal loops and facilitate insertion of the device, air is pumped into the intestines.

Colonoscopy shows the condition of the internal walls and mucous membranes.

What are the indications for the procedures?

An ultrasound is indicated if the patient has the following symptoms and disorders:

chronic constipation or, in contrast, fecal incontinence;
the appearance of blood in the stool;
there is displacement of the organ;

An examination is necessary if the patient complains of chronic constipation.

curvature of the rectum and other changes in its shape;
suspicion of intestinal cancer;
malignant prostate tumors in men;
in women - the presence of endometriosis, which, as is known, tends to spread to other organs;
suspected malignant prostate tumor in men.

For preventive purposes, it is advisable to conduct an ultrasound of the intestines once a year.

Colonoscopy is performed for the following indications:

purulent or mucous discharge from the anus;
blood in stool;
digestive disorders. constipation or diarrhea;
suspicion of the presence of foreign objects in the intestines;
symptoms of Crohn's disease;
suspicion of intestinal obstruction or ulcerative colitis.

You should also undergo an examination if you have severe abdominal pain.

Ultrasound and colonoscopy usually complement each other, but do not replace each other. If colonoscopy is contraindicated, it can be replaced with magnetic resonance imaging or capsule diagnostics.

Capsule diagnosis is the safest method of enteroscopy.

What we can see

Colonoscopy, due to its invasiveness and complexity, is prescribed after ultrasound or MRI as an additional diagnostic method to confirm or refute the evidence of previous studies. Endoscopy serves as the main diagnostic method in those hospitals where advanced diagnostic equipment is not available.

A microcamera inserted into the intestine takes pictures and displays an image of the inner walls of the intestine on a computer monitor. By moving the endoscope deeper inside, the doctor is able to examine the intestine over 2 meters - half the entire length of the intestine. Colonoscopy shows the presence of cracks, bruises, erosions, ulcers, scars and tumors on the inner walls of the intestine.

During a colonoscopy, a special probe with a camera is inserted into the rectum

Ultrasound examination shows:

shape and size of intestines;
structure of the intestinal canal;
thickness and structure of the intestinal walls;
condition and number of their layers;
the length of individual parts of the digestive tract;
the presence of inflammation and tumors;
size of lymph nodes.

If you do an ultrasound of the intestines instead of a colonoscopy, the result most likely will not satisfy the doctor. These are different methods that give different results.

And the result of an ultrasound examination may require explanations and additions, which can only be provided by an examination from the inside, that is, one of the endoscopy methods.

Colonoscopy allows the doctor to evaluate the condition of the intestines from the inside

What are the contraindications

Ultrasound is such a safe procedure that there are no serious contraindications to it. However, it is not recommended to conduct an ultrasound examination during any infectious diseases. The infection must be treated first. Examinations should not be performed on damaged skin. Mental disorders are also a contraindication for ultrasound.

Since colonoscopy is a traumatic procedure, it has many more contraindications.

Colonoscopy cannot be performed in the following pathological conditions:

peritonitis;
acute heart attack or decreased blood circulation in the heart muscle;
shock conditions accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure;
complicated forms of intestinal inflammation;
pregnancy;
intestinal bleeding and accumulation of blood in the intestines or abdominal cavity;
diverticulitis;
the presence of an umbilical or inguinal hernia.

Colonoscopy during pregnancy is contraindicated

If there are such contraindications, the doctor is forced to abandon these types of diagnostics and resort to other methods.

What are the pros and cons

The main disadvantage of colonoscopy is the penetration into the body. An inexperienced doctor can perforate the intestines and provoke internal bleeding. Not all patients tolerate this procedure easily. For some, it is very painful, and the pain persists for several days. There are known cases of patients becoming infected with hepatitis C as a result of colonoscopy. Informativeness is the main advantage of this diagnostic method, despite its shortcomings. It is possible to take not only individual photographs, but also a video recording of the intestinal condition observed during the procedure.

To reduce the pain from inserting the endoscope, painkillers are used, such as:

Luan gel;
Katedzhel (gel for urological studies);

For pain relief, you can use Xylocaine Gel

Dicamin ointment;
Xylocaine gel and others.

The advantages of ultrasound are, firstly, its non-invasiveness, and secondly, this procedure does not affect the patient’s well-being. Even a transrectal examination will not cause suffering. But ultrasound is somewhat inferior to colonoscopy in terms of information content.

How to choose the right method

The examination method is chosen by the doctor based on the observed symptoms, taking into account indications and contraindications. If there are serious contraindications against colonoscopy, the doctor may resort to other diagnostic procedures:

sigmoidoscopy, or examination of the intestines to a depth of 30 cm;
irrigoscopy - x-ray with the introduction of a barium solution into the intestines;
capsule diagnostics involving swallowing a small capsule with a miniature camera without wires or hoses.

If you want to learn more about how a colonoscopy is performed and for what indications, then watch this video:

The advantage of capsule diagnostics is the absence of hoses and the disposability of the capsule. It moves independently through the intestines and removes everything in its path. Capsule diagnostics is a safe and painless method. The capsule leaves the body naturally.