{UAH} ENDOSCOPY: MEDICAL PROCEDURE

What happens during the medical procedure known as "endoscopy"?

The doctors can correct me here but it is terrifying for anyone, even Obote, to know that they need to have a camera shoved up their anus. The reason for the test is diagnostic, so that a doctor can take a look inside. Usually because there has been some unusual bowel activity, diarrhoea, bleeding, constipation/blocked digestive system, incontinence...etc.

It is best managed when we have an unconscious patient. Woke patients might fear that the medical professionals might start giggling.

So if you have any specific medical worries about South African "rectal intruders", it is best to share your fears with the doctor beforehand... if you can.

There are a few different endoscopy cameras;

- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

This is used to look at the inside of the large intestine from the anus (rectum) through to what they call the sigmoid.

- Rigid Sigmoidoscopy

This is a procedure done to look at the rectum and lower colon (intestines).

- Colonoscopy

This is an examination of the large intestines and the end part of the small intestines with a camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus.

- Pouchoscopy

This is a procedure to examine the lining of your anal pouch for any inflammation, abnormal growths or unknown tissue.

Before conducting an endoscopy, the digestive system must be completely clear of excrement. This that the procedure can be performed optimumly.

The patient (Obote) will be given a laxative preparation to widen the anus and intestines, but mainly to clear out all excreta from the digestive system.

Usually patients stay close to the toilet after taking the laxative. Unconscious patients are assisted manually to defecate from their bed into some plastic bedding that would be placed underneath them. But that means they will be wallowing in their own excrements.

What next?

Before the procedure, they remove all Obote's clothes, and his frail body remains completely naked, with his genitalia tipping to one side. They then dress him into a patients gown. There will be a few medical guys and nurses in the room doing all this prep work. They then turn his whole body to one side, and bring the knees up towards his chest. The back of the gown is then open to the doctor.

The first step in the procedure is the doctor inserting a finger (poke) into the former statesman's anus. The endoscope device is then inserted through the anus, up the rectum, and into the intestinal colon.

Endoscopes have multiple channels: One for inserting operatory instruments, another for pumping in air, another for suction of anything they encounter in the intestines, and lastly one for light so as to see clearly.

The device is therefore quite sizeable and the anus can be clamped open with another special device during the entire duration of the endoscopy.

The bowel is expanded with air blown in so as to maximise visibility by creating space, this can make a patient have the sensation that they need to defecate.

An endoscopy is said to last around 30 minutes. So that's 30 minutes of rectal intrusion.

So intrusive that usually patients should have a person with them to help them walk home afterwards. Even those who intended to pass through Luweero.

One very common after-effect is a bout of flatulence (farting) caused by the air that was pumped into the anus during the procedure. So there could be alot of impromptu gassing by Mr. Obote along his extended journey to Akokoro as clueless aggreived mourners possibly suspect each other of farting.

But remember that it is a medical procedure. It can feel upsetting and/or embarrassing but these issues are important especially for people seeking emergency medical help.

By Hussein Lumumba Amin.

25 Aug 2017

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