Anus and rectum

Organs such as your stomach or bowel do not show up very well on a normal X-ray. To closely examine these areas on an X-ray, your consultant may recommend a barium meal or enema.

A colonoscopy is a procedure to look at the inside of the large bowel (colon) using a flexible telescope.

Colorectal screening is available to asymptomatic patients with a family history of bowel cancer.

A diagnostic endoscopy is an examination to look at your internal organs using an instrument called an endoscope.

A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a procedure to look at the inside your sigmoid colon (last one-third of your colon) and rectum using a flexible telescope.

If an examination of your rectum (back passage) is too painful or your consultant needs to treat an area of your rectum, you may be given general anaesthetic.

A rigid sigmoidoscopy is a procedure to look at the inside your sigmoid colon (last one-third of your colon) and rectum using a small rigid telescope (proctoscope).

Abdominoperineal resection (AP resection) is a procedure to remove your rectum, anal canal and lower bowel.

Anterior resection is a surgical procedure to remove the diseased portion of your bowel and rectum (back passage).

It involves placing a very tight elastic band around the base of your haemorrhoids to cut off their blood supply. The haemorrhoids should then fall off and pass out of your body when you go to the toilet.

This is a procedure to remove haemorrhoids (piles).

If you have severe a bowel disease such as colon cancer or ulcerative colitis, you may need to have your large intestine (colon and rectum) removed. An Ileal pouch (or J pouch) procedure will help restore more normal control and passing of stool.

Rectal prolapse occurs when part or your entire rectum (last part of your colon where stool is stored) falls out of your anus (back passage).

During this procedure, haemorrhoids are stapled to the inside of the rectum to reduce their blood supply and allow them to shrink.

Transanal haemorrhoidal dearterialisation (THD) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat haemorrhoids.