title: [Colonoscopy. Analysis of 2,000 procedures].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During the last 3 decades, colonoscopy has become the diagnostic study with greatest sensitivity and acuity in colonic pathology.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To know the most frequent diagnostic and colonoscopic disorders, and the pathology found, to establish certainty of the colonoscopic procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1987 and 1997, a descriptive, transversal, retrospective and observational study of the 2,000 colonoscopies that were carried out at on service was done, making a registry of the endoscopic search in colorectal pathology and their characteristics in on patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Colonoscopies were done in 967 men (47.3%) and 1,053 women (52.6%) with a median age of 55.8 years (10 range (-) 93 years). In 1,780 of them (89.%), it was possible to arrive to cecum; 1,150 (57.5%) were pathologic. The most frequent finding was hemorrhage of the lower digestive tube in 525 (26.2%) patients; in addition cancer in 402 (20.1%), suspicion of intestinal inflammatory disease 292 (14.6%) and colorectal polyps 199 (10%) were found. The most frequent endoscopic diagnosis was colorectal polyps in 405 (35.7%) patients; in additions diverticular disease was found in 404 (35.1%) patients intestinal inflammatory disease in 185 (16%), colorectal cancer in 85 (7.4%), and vascular ectasias in 52 (4.5%) patients. There were four complicated cases (0.25%), three by resolved therapeutic colonoscopy and one diagnostically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most frequent colonoscopic were findings hemorrhage of the lower digestive tube and the finding of cancer. The most frequent diagnoses were colorectal polyps and diverticular disease. Colonoscopy is a safe diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía de Colon y Recto, Hospital de Especialidades Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Unzueta-Hebert
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Villanueva-Sáenz
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rocha-Ramírez
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Peña-Ruiz Esparza
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Barrientos-Castro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies