Lower Gastrointestinal System Endoscopy Findings in Şırnak: A Retrospective Study

Aim: It was aimed to evaluate endoscopy reports in patients who had lower gastrointestinal system complaints and underwent endoscopy in Şırnak to determine up-to-date findings and their frequency and to compare them with the literature data. Materials and Methods: Demographic characteristics, endoscopy, and pathology results of patients who underwent lower gastrointestinal system endoscopy in the gastroenterology clinic endoscopy unit of Şırnak State Hospital between November 2019 and August 2021 were evaluated retrospectively. The findings were described with the help of the SPPS 25 statistical program. Results: Of the 728 patients in the study, colonoscopy was performed in 632, and rectosigmoidoscopy was performed in 96 patients. 57.8% (n: 421) were male. The mean age was 46±18.46 (range 18–120 years). The most common indication was rectal bleeding, hematochezia, or, rarely, unexplained melena in 139 (19.1%) patients. Unexplained anemia was the second most common indication in 120 (16.5%) patients. Four hundred and fifty (61.8%) patients had pathological findings. The most common results were 44% (n: 317) hemorrhoids and 19.1% (n: 139) colorectal polyps. The frequency of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, solitary rectal ulcer, and diverticulum was 3.4% (n: 25), 9.2% (n: 67), 4.4% (n: 32), and 3.6% (n: 26), respectively. Conclusion: In this study, epidemiological data of lower gastrointestinal system endoscopy in Şırnak were obtained for the first time and compared with literature data. This study, with its up-todate data, will contribute to regional epidemiological studies.