Doctor Colon and Rectal Surgery

What is Colon and Rectal Surgery?

MedStar Health' physicians are specifically trained in the latest techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the colon and rectum. We provide symptomatic relief and treatment for hemorrhoids, fissures, diverticular disease, and polyps, among alternative conditions.

Our surgeons offer advanced surgical and minimally invasive (laparoscopic) choices. In fact, Hurley’s large intestine surgeons are among the area’s most eminent suppliers of laparoscopic procedures. These minimally invasive options not solely treat disease, they additionally need a smaller incision (which improves cosmetic results), facilitate preserving traditional viscus function, cut back post-operative pain and also the would like for analgesic medication, and speed recovery. Not all patients are candidates for laparoscopic or other minimally invasive forms of surgery. You and your operating surgeon are going to be ready to verify the foremost acceptable treatment choices for your specific condition.

Medical term

Colon and Rectal Surgery, also known as Colorectal Surgery, is a specialized medical field that focuses on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of disorders affecting the colon, rectum, and anus. The colon, also referred to as the large intestine, and the rectum are integral parts of the digestive system responsible for processing and eliminating waste from the body.

Colon and Rectal Surgeons are medical doctors who have undergone extensive training in general surgery and have subsequently pursued additional specialized training in the field of colorectal surgery. They are experts in managing a wide range of conditions and diseases, both benign and malignant, that affect the colon and rectum. Some of the common conditions and procedures within this field include:

• Colorectal Cancer: Colon and Rectal Surgeons are skilled in diagnosing and treating colorectal cancer. This may involve surgical procedures to remove tumors and affected portions of the colon or rectum, often followed by techniques to restore normal bowel function.

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can be managed through medical and surgical interventions. Surgeons may perform procedures to remove diseased segments of the intestine or create pouches to replace the rectum in cases of ulcerative colitis.

• Diverticular Disease: This involves the development of small pouches (diverticula) in the colon wall, which can become inflamed or infected. Surgery may be necessary to remove affected portions of the colon.

• Anal Conditions: Colorectal Surgeons can address various anal conditions such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and anal abscesses through both non-surgical and surgical techniques.

• Bowel Obstruction: Surgical procedures can be performed to relieve obstructions in the colon or rectum caused by tumors, scar tissue, or other factors.

• Functional Disorders: Some patients may experience issues with bowel control (fecal incontinence) or chronic constipation. Surgical approaches can be used to improve these functional problems.

• Minimally Invasive Surgery: Many colorectal surgeries can be performed using minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopy or robotic-assisted surgery. These approaches often result in shorter hospital stays, less pain, and faster recovery times.

Colon and Rectal Surgeons work closely with other medical professionals, including gastroenterologists, oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists, to provide comprehensive care to patients. They also play a crucial role in cancer screening and prevention through procedures like colonoscopies.

Our surgeons address the following conditions:

• Anal cancer

• Anal condyloma

• Anal Fissure

• Anal Fistula

• Anal incontinence

• Anal sphincter repair

• Anorectal disease:

• Colon cancer

• Diverticular disease

• Hemorrhoids

• Hereditary colon and rectal cancer

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBS)

• Polyps

• Rectal cancer

• Rectal prolapse

Our technology, as well as our approach to treatment, is ready-made to the particular needs of every individual patient. We provide the best level of comfort and minimally invasive techniques that scale back recovery time, minimize hospital stay, and facilitate a return to traditional daily activity.

Surgeries performed by MedStar Health colon and rectal surgeons include:

• Colectomy

• Colostomy

• Endoscopic surgery

• Hemorrhoidectomy

• Ileal pouch anal anastomosis (J-pouch)

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) surgery

• Internal sphincterotomy

• Rectopexy

• Resection

What Does a Colorectal Surgeon Do?

These professionals are unique due to the fact they have got certification to diagnose and deal with all conditions that affect the decreased digestive tract up to and together with surgical treatment. Since intestinal troubles can also impact different areas of the frame, colorectal surgeons might also deal with the liver, urinary tract, and lady reproductive machine.

Reasons To See a Colorectal Surgeon

There are loads of situations that could affect your decreased digestive tract. After you share your issues together with your primary care doctor, they will refer you to a colorectal healthcare professional for an authentic diagnosis. From there, you’ll be capable of investigating your treatment options. 

The most commonplace reasons to seek the care of a colorectal health practitioner consist of:

Cancer

This is the increase of unusual cells in the colon, rectum, or anus, which might also negatively affect your capacity to digest food or produce a bowel movement. When left untreated, cancer can spread to different areas of the body.

Diverticulitis

This inflammatory condition, which affects the colon, is a kind of diverticular disease — a not unusual circumstance wherein small sacs or bulges known as “diverticula” form within the big gut, on its partitions. Diverticulitis is while this kind of sacs or bulges is perforated, or torn. Complications from a diverticulitis attack can be extreme, together with bleeding and infection. Sometimes, you’ll only need a medicinal drug to recover, but some cases can also require surgical procedure.

Ulcerative Colitis

An inflammatory ailment that impacts the rectum and colon, ulcerative colitis is generally dealt with medically. This circumstance can come and go, but if scientific management isn’t sufficient, you could need a surgical procedure.

Crohn’s Disease

Primarily defined as an inflammatory ailment, Crohn’s disease can lower your frame’s potential to digest meals, absorb vitamins, and remove waste.

Hemorrhoids

This circumstance is very common following strenuous activity or being pregnant and beginning. Blood vessels may also swell and protrude thru sensitive pores and skin, appearing as a blood clot either inside or out of doors of the anus.

Fecal Incontinence

This condition can also have any range of contributing elements, all of which lead to an inability to manipulate the passing of fuel or bowel actions. Similar to constipation, it is able to be a sign of an extra critical situation.

Colectomy

An ostomy is a surgical treatment in which your Dr. creates a hole in your parties and pulls one finish of the colon through the gap. Surgeons perform colostomy procedures to treat a variety of colon and body part conditions.

 A colostomy procedure basically alters however your body excretes waste and unclean matter. whereas you'll want your time to urge wont to living with a colostomy, you will realize that you simply will live a full life, complete with all the activities you enjoyed previously. The realm wherever the new opening sits is termed a stoma. This is where waste matter will exit your body.

 When you have an ostomy, you'll want a colostomy bag that collects the waste from your body. The bag lies outside of your body. Before you're discharged, a trained ostomy nurse will teach you the way to worry for your stoma and manage the bag.

The colostomy is either temporary or permanent:

• Temporary colostomies are performed for specific conditions that allow for the reattachment of the colon at a later point in time. This allows the affected area to heal because the stool is not passing through the area. Once the affected area has healed, you undergo a colostomy reversal procedure.

• Permanent colostomies are used in cases of chronic disease, such as Crohn’s disease and diverticular disease. Your surgeon may also remove the infected area of the colon or rectum.

Endoscopic surgery

Endoscopic surgery is performed by mistreating a scope, a versatile tube with a camera and light-weight at the tip. This permits your sawbones to ascertain within your colon and perform procedures while not creating major incisions, allowing easier recovery time and fewer pain and discomfort. Snaring is the most typical operation that may be performed through any of the endoscopes. A snare may be a wire shaped sort of a lasso that's coiled over a neoplasm and tightened; then the wire is galvanized to stop hemorrhage because it cuts through.

 scrutiny procedures are most frequently used for diagnosis.

Hemorrhoidectomy

Your doctor may initially suggest nonsurgical treatments for hemorrhoids, together with mode changes and medications. If you tried home treatments and did not feel ample relief, you {will} be a candidate for surgery. Surgery for hemorrhoids is called a surgical procedure. Throughout a hemorrhoidectomy, your doctor will place you beneath local anesthesia and build incisions around your orifice to get rid of the hemorrhoids. A hemorrhoidectomy is mostly a patient procedure, that means you'll head home an equivalent day. you'll feel some tenderness round the incisions. surgical procedure usually provides the most effective long results for hemorrhoids.

• Procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH), also known as stapled hemorrhoidectomy is a minimally invasive procedure to treat hemorrhoids and prolapse. During PPH, your doctor will use a circular stapling device to reposition the hemorrhoidal tissue back to its original position in the anus and trim the tissue that is causing pain. PPH reduces the blood flow to the hemorrhoids, causing them to shrink. PPH is a highly effective procedure, but surgeons must undergo special training to perform it effectively.

• In addition to PPH, your surgeon may use rubber band ligation, where a rubber band is placed around the hemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply and destroy the tissue.

Ileal pouch anal anastomosis (J-Pouch)

Ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA), conjointly known as the J-pouch procedure, could be a procedure to form a pouch from the top of your bowel and fix the pouch to the anus. If you wish to have your intestine (colon) removed, IPAA restores your stool function. Surgeons perform this procedure for patients who require their large intestine removed throughout a procedure called a colectomy, or colon resection. Patients will live while not a colon, however bowel management may be problematic. This procedure helps restore control over bowel function.

IPAA is a life-altering procedure. However, you're in knowledgeable hands at MedStar Health. Our entire medical team will work with you before, throughout and after your surgery to facilitate you manage life with a J-pouch. Most patients notice that after an amount of adjustment, they're ready to come to and revel in all of their favorite activities.

Benefits

The advantage of the J-pouch is that it eliminates the need for the permanent gap (stoma) and waste bag. The procedure preserves the anus, and also the internal pouch is the storage place for stool. This enables you to keep up viscus management and eliminate waste through the anus.

Procedure

In the procedure:

• Your surgeon removes your large intestine and creates the pouch from the small intestine. He or she then creates a temporary ileostomy, which you will have for 2 months, during which time your bowel and the new pouch have time to heal.

• After two months, you have a second operation, and your surgeon reverses the ileostomy. The pouch is now where stool will collect. You retain control of the anal muscles, allowing you to eliminate waste normally.

• After the procedure, you will probably have more bowel movements compared to those without a pouch, but it does not greatly interfere with your quality of life.

How serious is colorectal surgery?

Colonoscopy is a medical procedure in which a long flexible tube called a colonoscope is inserted into the rectum and advanced all the way to the large intestine or colon Colonoscopy is used to examine the inside of your colon and rectum for signs of diseases such as cancer The video above shows a colonoscopy A colonoscopy can detect cancer when it is still small and more treatable If a polyp (a growth on the inner wall of the colon) is found during your exam it may be removed during the same procedure Some polyps may also be destroyed using heat cold or electric current A biopsy of tissue from a polyp may also be taken to.

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