Diagnosis of hemorrhoids and ODS

Hemorrhoidal disease is a common complaint in the coloproctology outpatient clinic. A careful history and examination is usually all that is required to select patients for surgical intervention. Other investigations are aimed at excluding coexistent colorectal disease and assessing anorec-tal function in patients with a history of defecatory dysfunction or incontinence. Obstructed defecation may be due to a variety of pathologies. Although a careful history and examination help to defi ne the problem, further investigation of pelvic fl oor function is mandatory to characterize the underlying etiology. The clinical diagnosis of hemorrhoi-dal disease and obstructed defecation syndrome is discussed.