[Colonoscopy - indications and utility]

On the basis of own experiences in 600 examinations and 113 polypectomies a survey is given on indications, contraindications, evidence, therapeutic possibilities and complications of the coloscopy. 38.4% of the patients were referred to coloscopy on account of suspicion of presence of a tumor of the colon, 24.5% on account of a supposed inflammation of the large intestine, 19.2% on account of unclear rectal haemorrhage and 12.1% on account of radiologically diagnosed polyps. In 4.1% of the patients the cases in question were after examinations after coloscopic polypectomy and in 1.8% the cases in question were control examinations after operation of the intestine on account of carcinoma of the colon. The suspicion of tumour was coloscopically confirmed only in 18.1% of the patients who were examined on account of this indication, a supposed inflammation of the large intestine in 29.7%. A source of haemorrhage was proved in 64.8% of the patients who were examined under this question. The after examination of the polypectomized patients resulted in a new proof of polyps in 50%.