Direct anorectal intubation during colonoscopy: a logical new paradigm.

Abstract

Traditionally, endoscopists are trained to introduce the colonoscope blindly through the anus using the finger as a guide, and then start the mucosal inspection [1]. This practice of blindly introducing the tip of the scope originated during the era of fiberoptic endoscopy, but has remained standard despite the availability of wide-angle viewing video colonoscopy techniques, which practically allow for a complete and detailed inspection of the perineal and anal areas. Indeed, video gastroscopes were also inserted blindly into the esophagus until the last century. Nevertheless, now it is standard to insert video gastroscopes under direct vision and inspect the hypopharynx and vocal cord areas as well.