Colorectal surgery can relieve symptoms caused by conditions such as colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and mechanical bowel obstruction. While all surgeries are risky, complications can usually be minimized through careful planning and recovery management.

Under general anesthesia, the surgeon makes three to five tiny incisions in the abdomen. A scope is inserted, and instruments are used to remove diseased sections of the colon or excise tumors. Contact Copper Mountain Surgical now!

Colorectal Surgeons are doctors who specialize in the lower gastrointestinal tract, the large intestine (also called the colon), and the anus. These specialists are familiar with medical concerns that affect these areas, and they are trained to listen to your symptoms without judgment. Many people are hesitant to discuss problems they have with their bathroom habits, but being open about these issues with your doctor is crucial to getting the correct diagnosis and treatment.

In addition to diagnosing issues, colorectal surgeons can perform procedures that treat these conditions. Some of these procedures are minimally invasive and others are more invasive depending on the condition being treated.

Some of the procedures include a colonoscopy, which uses a long, flexible tube with a video camera on one end to view the inside of the colon and anus. A colorectal surgeon can use this device to remove polyps, take tissue samples and diagnose cancer. A colorectal surgeon can also perform a procedure called a fistula surgery, which creates a surgical connection between two body structures such as the colon and the vagina. This is done when inflammation from Crohn’s disease causes a narrowing of the intestinal walls.

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins that can develop in the anal canal or rectum and can be very painful. Swollen hemorrhoids can be treated with at-home measures such as suppositories, but sometimes surgical removal is needed. A hemorrhoidectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the affected tissue and can provide long-term relief.

Other issues that a colorectal surgeon treats are inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s, appendicitis, cancer of the appendix or sigmoid colon, diverticula and rectal prolapse. These conditions can cause bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

When you go to see a colorectal surgeon, bring an updated list of medications and your family history of colorectal disease. It’s helpful to write down your symptoms and how long you have been experiencing them so you can clearly explain them to the surgeon. You should also bring a recent stool sample and your colonoscopy results. Your colorectal surgeon will ask you about your lifestyle and any previous medical history to get a complete picture of your health.

Treatment

Your large intestine—or colon—is the last part of your digestive tract before waste exits at the bottom. Sometimes problems in this area need surgery. Colorectal surgeons are specially trained to treat conditions such as rectal cancer, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease and piles (a skin condition caused by a buildup of blood in the rectum).

A colorectal surgeon may recommend treatment with medication or a dietary change before considering surgery. If symptoms continue, he or she will likely refer you to a colorectal specialist.

Minimally invasive surgery is often the preferred method. While you’re under anesthesia, the surgeon makes three to five small incisions — less than 1/4 inch each — in your lower abdomen. The doctor then inserts a tube with a camera at the tip into one of the incisions to see inside your colon. Other incisions allow the surgeon to use instruments to remove diseased sections of your colon or excise growths or tumors.

If it’s not possible to reconnect the ends of your colon after partial colectomy, the surgeon will make an opening in the skin (an area called a stoma) and connect it to a bag outside your body where stool will come out. This is called a colostomy, and it can be temporary or permanent. Sometimes the surgeon will create a similar opening in the end of your small intestine (called an ileostomy) instead of in your colon.

Less invasive procedures include:

Your surgeon may also try to resolve your symptoms using an endoscope, which is a thin, flexible tube with a camera at the tip. He or she can also perform surgical tasks with an endoscope, such as removing hemorrhoids by making several tiny incisions around the anus (anus).

Recovery

Surgical treatment can alleviate conditions that affect the lower digestive tract, including cancer, tumors and other abnormalities. The goal is to restore proper function, improve comfort, and promote healing.

Recovery after colorectal surgery depends on the type of procedure performed. Some procedures are minimally invasive and require less time in the hospital than others. Your surgeon will discuss the specifics of your procedure and what to expect.

The first step in recovery is balancing rest and activity. Too much rest can slow your progress, while too little movement may lead to complications such as blood clots. Your Los Angeles colorectal surgeon will give you guidance about how to best balance these factors. They will likely recommend gentle activities such as walking to support circulation and help your body recover.

It’s also important to get plenty of fluids and eat a healthy diet. Your surgeon may prescribe medications to manage pain, prevent infection, and address other issues that can impact your recovery. Make sure you take your medications as directed, and speak with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

The night before surgery, follow your surgeon’s instructions about what to eat and drink. You should not eat solid foods after midnight and only consume clear liquids. Your health care team will probably want to draw blood for laboratory tests before your surgery. Your surgeon will explain what this means and why it’s necessary.

Once you’re home from the hospital, your recovery process will continue with regular follow-up appointments. It’s crucial to go to your follow-up appointments so that your colorectal surgeon can monitor your recovery and address any concerns that come up.

It’s also important to follow your surgeon’s advice about how to eat, drink and exercise. This will help you heal faster and return to your normal life sooner. With careful monitoring, most patients recover well from colorectal surgery and can resume their daily activities. To learn more about colorectal surgery, contact our office today. Our experienced surgeons and caring staff are dedicated to providing attentive patient care. We also work to research new methods of treatment and train future colorectal surgeons.

Follow-up

Our surgical team has extensive experience performing intestinal and anorectal surgeries. Patients come to us from throughout the Mountain West for our expertise in colon cancer, rectal disease and more. We work closely with medical oncology (cancer) specialists, radiation oncology (cancer treatment) experts, gastrointestinal (GI) specialists and other health care professionals to provide our patients with comprehensive, team-based care.

Our physicians use the latest robotic surgery techniques to remove just enough healthy tissue along with the cancer cells to greatly reduce your risk of recurrence. However, the recurrence rate is never zero, and surveillance exams are key to catching cancers in an early stage when they are more likely to be curable. Your physician will recommend a follow-up schedule for you that is tailored to your particular situation.

Your first appointment will probably be 1 to 3 weeks after you’re discharged from the hospital. You’ll need to call your surgeon’s office to make an appointment. It’s important to attend all of your follow-up appointments, as missing one can increase the risk that your cancer will return.

Some major societies and expert groups recommend intensive postoperative surveillance in a bid to detect potentially curable recurrences in the earliest possible time. Such a protocol typically includes fecal occult blood, CBC, LFT and CEA every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months till 5 years with a colonoscopy if needed. A study showed that this protocol had a similar survival benefit to standard follow-up with H and P, CBC, CEA, chest X-ray and colonoscopy.

Depending on the type of procedure you have, your doctor may also suggest regular follow-up visits with a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon. A gastroenterologist is a fully trained internal medicine specialist who has taken sub-specialty training in gastrointestinal tract disorders. A colorectal surgeon has fully completed a general surgery residency and has taken further sub-specialty training in the digestive tract.

Both can perform a colonoscopy, but a gastroenterologist is more suited to detect non-cancerous issues in the GI tract such as polyps or inflammation. However, a colorectal surgeon is more equipped to detect anastomotic recurrences and other potential surgical problems.