Colon & Rectal Surgery

Colon and Rectum

Laparoscopic Colectomy: A colectomy is a surgical procedure designed to remove all or part of the colon that has been affected by disease. Individuals who have cancer, intestinal polyps, irritable bowel disease, intestinal bleeding or blockage, diverticulitis (when pouches form in the wall of the colon and get inflamed or infected), or a rectal prolaspe (the rectum slips or falls out of place) may require a colectomy. Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive colectomy procedure that utilizes 3 to 5 small incisions, small surgical instruments, and a tube with a camera on the end (a laparoscope). The laparoscope is used to project images of the diseased area onto a screen that the surgeon can view during the surgery. Prior to the colectomy, the surgeon inflates the patient’s abdomen with carbon dioxide for easier visualization and access to the affected area of the colon. Then, the small instruments are inserted into the incisions in order to examine and remove diseased tissue. Once the tissue is removed, the surgeon reattaches the remaining healthy parts of the colon together, reattaches the remaining section of colon to the rectum, or creates a colostomy (an external opening through the abdomen for waste removal). Laparoscopic colectomies have several advantages over “open surgeries” (traditional procedures that use one long incision). Patients who have laparoscopic surgery experience less pain and discomfort, have a shorter recovery time, return to eating a regular diet more quickly, return to daily activities more rapidly, and experience less severe scarring than patients who have open surgery.

Colorectal Surgeon

Colorectal Surgeon: A colorectal surgeon, also called a proctologist, specializes in diseases of the colon and rectum. These professionals have received training both in general surgery and in advanced treatment of conditions of the lower intestinal tract.

What Does a Colorectal Surgeon Do? Colorectal surgeons diagnose and treat a number of analrectal and digestive problems including:

Hemorrhoids, fissures, fistulas and abscesses on the anus and rectum
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis)
Diverticulitis (infection of the tissues around the colon)
Incontinence
Diarrhea and Constipation
Rectal prolapse
Cancer
Polyps
Pelvic floor disorders (perineal hernia, rectocele)

Colorectal Screenings - Colorectal surgeons also perform endoscopy procedures (colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy) for diagnostic purposes or as routine screening for colorectal cancer and other disorders.

During a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy, a long, flexible instrument about ½ inch in diameter is inserted into the rectum and threaded up into the large intestine. A camera on the end of the scope allows the surgeon to view the lining of the colon. A biopsy can also be taken if necessary. Another commonly used diagnostic tool is the lower G.I. series, a series of x-rays of the colon and rectum. The patient will receive a barium enema before the x-rays are taken to help identify any irregularities.

Colorectal Surgery

The large intestine, or colon, is the lower part of the digestive tract. Colon surgery or resection is used to treat diseases of the colon, such as colon cancer, diverticular disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, polyps, or a blockage in the bowel. During colon surgery, the surgeon removes the diseased part of the bowel before reconnecting the healthy sections of the colon (a procedure called “end-to-end anastomosis”). Patients with severe colon disease may require a colostomy, a procedure in which the surgeon connects part of the colon to the abdominal wall, leaving an external opening called a stoma. Colon resections can be performed using an open surgery or laparoscopic technique. Open colon surgeries utilize a long abdominal incision that allows the surgeon access to the colon. Laparoscopic surgery uses 4 or 5 small abdominal incisions. A tiny tube with a camera on the end (laparoscope) and small surgical instruments are then used to perform the procedure.



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Procedures > Colon & Rectal Surgery Colon & Rectal Surgery Colon and Rectum Laparoscopic Colectomy: A colectomy is a surgical procedure designed to remove all or part of the colon that has been affected by disease. Individuals who have cancer, intestinal polyps, irritable bowel disease, intestinal bleeding or blockage, diverticulitis (when pouches form in the wall of the colon and get inflamed or infected), or a rectal prolaspe (the rectum slips or falls out of place) may require a colectomy. Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive colectomy procedure that utilizes 3 to 5 small incisions, small surgical instruments, and a tube with a camera on the end (a laparoscope). The laparoscope is used to project images of the diseased area onto a screen that the surgeon can view during the surgery. Prior to the colectomy, the surgeon inflates the patient’s abdomen with carbon dioxide for easier visualization and access to the affected area of the colon. Then, the small instruments are inserted into the incisions in order to examine and remove diseased tissue. Once the tissue is removed, the surgeon reattaches the remaining healthy parts of the colon together, reattaches the remaining section of colon to the rectum, or creates a colostomy (an external opening through the abdomen for waste removal). Laparoscopic colectomies have several advantages over “open surgeries” (traditional procedures that use one long incision). Patients who have laparoscopic surgery experience less pain and discomfort, have a shorter recovery time, return to eating a regular diet more quickly, return to daily activities more rapidly, and experience less severe scarring than patients who have open surgery. Colorectal Surgeon Colorectal Surgeon: A colorectal surgeon, also called a proctologist, specializes in diseases of the colon and rectum. These professionals have received training both in general surgery and in advanced treatment of conditions of the lower intestinal tract. What Does a Colorectal Surgeon Do? Colorectal surgeons diagnose and treat a number of analrectal and digestive problems including: Hemorrhoids, fissures, fistulas and abscesses on the anus and rectum Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis) Diverticulitis (infection of the tissues around the colon) Incontinence Diarrhea and Constipation Rectal prolapse Cancer Polyps Pelvic floor disorders (perineal hernia, rectocele) Colorectal Screenings - Colorectal surgeons also perform endoscopy procedures (colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy) for diagnostic purposes or as routine screening for colorectal cancer and other disorders. During a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy, a long, flexible instrument about ½ inch in diameter is inserted into the rectum and threaded up into the large intestine. A camera on the end of the scope allows the surgeon to view the lining of the colon. A biopsy can also be taken if necessary. Another commonly used diagnostic tool is the lower G.I. series, a series of x-rays of the colon and rectum. The patient will receive a barium enema before the x-rays are taken to help identify any irregularities. Colorectal Surgery The large intestine, or colon, is the lower part of the digestive tract. Colon surgery or resection is used to treat diseases of the colon, such as colon cancer, diverticular disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, polyps, or a blockage in the bowel. During colon surgery, the surgeon removes the diseased part of the bowel before reconnecting the healthy sections of the colon (a procedure called “end-to-end anastomosis”). Patients with severe colon disease may require a colostomy, a procedure in which the surgeon connects part of the colon to the abdominal wall, leaving an external opening called a stoma. Colon resections can be performed using an open surgery or laparoscopic technique. Open colon surgeries utilize a long abdominal incision that allows the surgeon access to the colon. Laparoscopic surgery uses 4 or 5 small abdominal incisions. A tiny tube with a camera on the end (laparoscope) and small surgical instruments are then used to perform the procedure.	Advanced Laparoscopy General Surgery Breast Surgery Surgical Oncology Colorectal Surgery Did You Know ... Advanced Surgical Associates offers a laparoscopic, minimally invasive approach for the treatment of diverticulitis?