Many conditions can affect your lower digestive tract. While your primary care physician can diagnose and treat some of these conditions, a colorectal surgeon is specially trained to assess and treat conditions affecting the colon, rectum and anus.
Surgery is a major event in any patient’s life. Educating yourself about your procedure can help make the experience less stressful. Contact Colorectal Surgeon Phoenix for professional help.
A Colorectal Surgeon diagnoses, treats and manages disorders of the lower digestive tract, including inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, polyps, and diverticular diseases. In addition, they are trained in the use of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical techniques to reduce pain and scarring after surgery, speed up recovery time and shorten hospital stays.
Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis often require surgery to remove large segments of the colon or rectum when medications are not effective. This can control symptoms and prevent the development of complications such as fistulas (tunnels that develop between the skin and the lining around the anus or rectum, and may ooze blood or pus), rectal prolapse and abdominal pain.
Diverticulitis is a condition where small pouches, called diverticula, develop in the colon’s lining and become inflamed or infected. In extreme cases, surgery is needed to remove the affected segment of the colon.
Polyps are abnormal growths that can be either benign or precancerous and often require removal to eliminate the possibility of cancer. A colorectal surgeon also performs ostomy surgeries to create an opening for the body to eliminate waste, such as colostomy and ileostomy, which can be temporary or permanent.
Hemorrhoids are often treated with saline laxatives or herbal remedies, but some patients need medical attention. This is because some hemorrhoids are very painful and need to be removed surgically, as they can lead to serious infections in the anal canal if left untreated.
Other conditions that a colorectal surgeon treats include anal fistulas, which are tunnels that develop between the skin and the lining of the anus or rectum, and can ooze blood or pus during bowel movements; rectal prolapse, where part of the rectum slips outside of the anus; and abdominal pain caused by hernias or infection.
While any surgical procedure carries risks, your colorectal surgeon will help you minimize them by explaining the procedure in detail and answering any questions you may have. They will also advise you on dietary and health changes that can improve your chances of having a successful and speedy recovery.
Diagnosis
Your primary care doctor may recommend you see a colorectal surgeon or colon and rectal specialist, especially if your symptoms are related to the colon or rectum. Several conditions can lead to this referral, including colon polyps, colorectal cancer, or inflammatory conditions like diverticulitis and Crohn’s disease.
You can also be referred to a colorectal surgeon for problems like anal fissures, hemorrhoids, or rectovaginal abscesses. Your GI doctor may have already performed tests like blood work and imaging to diagnose these issues, but a colon and rectal surgeon has undergone advanced training to perform surgical management.
A GI doctor typically refers patients to a colon and rectal surgeon when the problem requires a surgical intervention to resolve it. You may be referred to a colorectal specialist if your gastroenterologist discovers a colon polyp during a colonoscopy, or if you have an inflammatory condition that doesn’t respond to medication.
When you are referred to a colon and rectal surgeon, it is important to tell them all of your symptoms and concerns. This will help them determine which types of testing and surgery are right for you. Some of the most common procedures include a colonoscopy, digital rectal exam, laparoscopic surgery, and rectoplasty.
Before surgery, you will likely need to follow a special diet and take laxatives to empty your bowels. This will prepare your body for the procedure and reduce your risk of infection. You may also need to stop certain medications before surgery, especially those that affect bleeding. Your doctor will provide specific guidelines.
After surgery, you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days so doctors can monitor your recovery and ensure that your digestive system is functioning properly. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled to track your progress and address any issues that arise.
If you have been diagnosed with a condition that requires treatment from a colorectal surgeon, it is important to keep all of your follow-up appointments. Doing so will ensure that your condition is treated effectively and that any complications are addressed promptly. If you don’t, your condition may worsen and cause further health issues.
Treatment
Colorectal surgeons treat a wide range of conditions related to the colon and rectal area, including:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which may require surgery to remove diseased sections of the large intestine.
Polyps: Abnormal growths in the lining of the colon that can become cancerous over time.
Colon Cancer: Early-stage colon cancer is usually confined to the rectal wall and can often be treated with a local excision (removal of only the affected tissue). A more extensive operation called an ileocolic resection or colostomy may be necessary if the cancer is advanced or has spread.
Anal Fistulas and Abscesses: Small tears in the lining of the anus or anal canal that can cause pain with bowel movements.
Hemorrhoids: Swollen blood vessels in and around the anus and rectum that can cause pain, bleeding and itching.
Colon and Rectal Surgery
If medications don’t help relieve symptoms, your colorectal surgeon may recommend surgery. We offer a variety of minimally invasive options, as well as traditional open surgery.
During laparoscopic colorectal surgery, our surgeons make several small incisions. They insert a thin tube into one of the incisions to see your colon on a screen and surgical tools into the others. The surgeon operates from a console where they control robotic arms that move the surgical tools with precision and enhanced dexterity. MSK doctors helped pioneer this type of minimally invasive surgery and perform more robot-assisted colon and rectal surgeries than any other institution in the country.
With this procedure, your surgeon makes a large incision in the abdomen to remove the tumor and some of the healthy colon or rectum. This type of surgery takes longer to recover from than less invasive procedures. If you have this surgery, we may create a hole in the abdomen that allows waste to pass out of your body through an opening in the abdominal wall (called a stoma or ostomy). Stool then leaves the body into a bag attached to the stoma. The stoma can be temporary or permanent. Our team can also repair an existing colostomy.
Surgery
A colorectal surgeon is a medical professional who specializes in the colon, rectum and anus. They treat conditions that affect your lower digestive tract, including hemorrhoids and bowel cancer. They also use minimally invasive surgery techniques, which are less painful and have shorter hospital stays.
The lower part of your gastrointestinal tract runs from your mouth to the anus, where food enters your large intestine. Your colon and rectum are made up of many different organs. They are the last stop on the journey food takes through your body. Conditions like Crohn’s disease, diverticular disease and hemorrhoids can cause discomfort and problems with urinating and defecating. Medications often treat these conditions, but when symptoms are severe, you may need surgical treatment.
During your operation, you will be put under general anesthesia. After your surgery, you will stay in the recovery room for about 30 minutes to an hour. Your doctor will talk with you and answer any questions. Then you will be able to go home or return to the hospital to continue your recovery.
Before you leave the hospital, you’ll need to have someone ready to drive you or help with your care at home. It’s important to have someone around while you recover, especially if your surgery was more invasive or if you have health problems that make it difficult to sit for long periods of time.
Colorectal surgeons perform a wide range of surgeries, including:
Bowel resection surgery
This surgery removes part or all of your large intestine. It’s often needed for cancer or other serious conditions. It can also help relieve pain and other symptoms from chronic conditions such as Crohn’s disease or inflammatory bowel syndrome (UC). Anus surgery
