Colorectal Surgery Q & A

What is colorectal surgery?

Colorectal surgery includes any procedure that involves the colon or rectum. The colon and rectum make up your large intestine, which is the last section of your digestive tract.

The Surgical Clinic, PC team specializes in colorectal surgery. In addition to treating the large intestine, the team may also perform procedures that affect the small intestine. 

Who needs colorectal surgery?

Your surgeon at Surgical Clinic, PC conducts a thorough examination to determine if you need colorectal surgery. 

For most conditions, doctors recommend surgery when medical interventions fail to improve the gastrointestinal condition or its symptoms. However, there are some conditions where surgery is the primary treatment. 

You may need colorectal surgery if you have:

  • Colon cancer
  • Appendicitis
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
  • Fistula: Tunnel through the intestinal wall
  • Anal fissure: Tear in the anal tissue
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Polyps: Benign growths 
  • Diverticulitis
  • Rectal prolapse

Surgical Clinic, PC may perform a colonoscopy or endoscopy to evaluate your GI tract before proceeding with surgery.

What are the types of colorectal surgery?

The Surgical Clinic, PC team performs many types of colorectal surgeries. The type of surgery you need depends on your diagnosis. 

Examples of colorectal surgeries include:

Colectomy

During a colectomy, your surgeon removes part or all of your large intestine. They perform this surgery to treat colon cancer and IBD.

Colostomy

For a colostomy, your surgeon creates a hole in your abdominal wall and pulls the end portion of your colon through, serving as a means for waste removal.

You may need a colostomy following a colectomy. A colostomy may be temporary. However, if your surgeon removed your rectum, you need a permanent colostomy.

Appendectomy

If you have appendicitis, you need an appendectomy, which involves removing the inflamed and infected appendix. An appendectomy is emergency surgery.

Hemorrhoidectomy

For problematic hemorrhoids, the team may perform a hemorrhoidectomy, which is a procedure when they surgically remove the hemorrhoid.

Small bowel resection

The team may perform a small bowel resection to treat Crohn’s disease, a fistula, or intestinal cancer. 

Internal sphincterotomy

The surgeons perform an internal sphincterotomy to treat an anal fissure. 

When possible, the team at Surgical Clinic, PC uses laparoscopic surgery to treat problems that affect the GI tract. Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique that reduces post-procedure pain and recovery time.

They may also perform procedures during a colonoscopy.

To find out more about colorectal surgery, call Surgical Clinic, PC or schedule a consultation online today.