Colorectal Surgeon Phoenix study your colon, rectum and anus in-depth, making them uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat conditions that affect the lower digestive tract. They use both nonsurgical and surgical methods.
During laparoscopic surgery, your surgeon makes small incisions. This method results in less pain and recovery time. Your surgeon may also perform surgery using a robotic system.
If you have a condition that affects the colon and rectum, your primary care doctor or gastroenterologist may refer you to a colorectal surgeon. Colorectal surgery experts work closely with your primary providers to coordinate surgical care that aligns with your overall health and treatment goals.
A surgeon trained in colon and rectal surgery is specially trained to treat conditions related to the lower digestive tract, including the colon, rectum, anus and pelvic floor. These include hemorrhoids, fissures and abscesses. The surgeon also treats diseases of the colon and rectum, such as diverticulitis, cancer, rectal polyps and inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis).
Your physician will use tools such as a colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy to examine these areas, and he or she will remove tissue samples for testing. A biopsy can help determine whether a tumor or abnormal cell is cancerous, and what type of cancer it is. Other tests can provide additional information about your condition and your prognosis, such as how quickly the cells are growing.
In addition to examining your gastrointestinal tract, the surgeon can perform other surgical procedures on these organs. He or she may use a laparoscopic or robotic technique to perform these procedures. These techniques are minimally invasive, allowing you to return home soon after surgery.
Colon and rectal surgery is a medical specialty, and your physician should be board certified. This certification requires years of education, residency and training. Your physician must also pass a rigorous exam.
A colorectal surgeon can remove the polyps and tumors that cause colon cancer. Sometimes, these surgeons can also treat the cancer with medicine. They can also treat other conditions with medication, such as inflammatory bowel disease and hemorrhoids. A colorectal surgeon can also treat other problems with the colon, rectum and anus, such as a hernia or enterocutaneous fistula, which are irregular connections between your colon or stomach and skin. They can even treat a condition called familial adenomatous polyposis, which causes your colon to grow hundreds or thousands of small growths that can lead to cancer.
Treatment
Colorectal surgeons treat conditions of the colon, rectum and perianal area (the area around the anus). Some of these are benign—such as polyps or diverticula—and others may be malignant—such as rectal cancer. The surgeon can remove these using surgery. They can also use minimally invasive techniques to treat some of these conditions.
During laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon makes small incisions in the abdomen instead of one long cut. Then they insert a long, flexible tool with a camera (a colonoscope) into the rectum to see the area inside. With this tool, they can remove polyps or a tumor from the rectum or colon without cutting into the abdominal wall. They can also use it to remove a diverticulosis sac or anal fistula. This can help patients avoid a colon resection.
They can also use a technique called transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) to remove a rectal tumor or polyps that are too high up in the colon to be removed with other surgical approaches. Mass General is among the few hospitals in the country offering this advanced procedure.
In some cases, the bowel may take longer than usual to “wake up” and start working again after colon surgery. This might be caused by the surgery itself or because of the anesthesia. If you are having trouble with this, talk to your doctor. They may want to do more tests to make sure that the problem is not more serious. They might then recommend a different type of treatment or an operation to put the bowel back together.
If your doctor decides that a section of the colon needs to be removed, they can remove it and nearby lymph nodes. They might also need to create an opening in the abdomen, which is called a stoma, so that waste can go into a collection bag. They might need to do this temporarily or permanently.
Some people who have had a large amount of colon or rectal cancer might need to have the entire colon removed. This is called a colectomy or colostomy. In these cases, they might also need to remove some or all of the small intestines and nearby lymph nodes.
Surgery
If your primary care physician diagnoses you with a condition of the colon, rectum or anus, your colorectal surgeon will perform surgery to treat it. The surgical procedure can range from minor to complex, depending on your condition. In most cases, your doctor will use a local anesthetic during the procedure, so you won’t feel much pain or discomfort. If the procedure requires sedation or general anesthesia, it’s a good idea to have someone drive you home afterward.
Some surgical procedures are done in the office with patients awake, including colonoscopies and some hemorrhoidectomy procedures. Other surgeries require anesthesia and a longer stay in the hospital. You can expect the doctor to explain what will happen during the procedure and answer any questions you have.
Polypectomy: Surgeons remove colon or rectal polyps by inserting a long, thin tool with a camera (colonoscope) into the rectum and passing a wire loop through it to snip off a tumor. They may also remove small clumps of cells known as inflammatory polyps. A less common procedure is a colon resection, in which the surgeon removes a portion of the colon to reduce inflammation caused by an intestinal obstruction.
Colon cancer: Sometimes, colorectal surgeons will remove the entire colon in a procedure called a colectomy. This is used to treat advanced colon cancer, severe inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions that affect the colon. In laparoscopic colectomy, the surgeon makes a series of small incisions instead of one long incision, which may result in less pain and a faster recovery.
Hemorrhoidectomy: In this procedure, the surgeon uses a tool with a needle to remove enlarged blood vessels from the anus and rectum. It’s one of the most effective ways to treat hemorrhoids over the long term.
Other conditions that may need surgery include rectal prolapse, in which the rectum falls down into the anus, and anal fistula, which is a painful infection in the anus or area surrounding the anus. Novant Health colorectal specialists treat these conditions with a variety of surgical techniques. Your surgeon will recommend specific post-surgical care guidelines, including diet and medication. You’ll also need to attend follow-up appointments as recommended.
Recovery
Most people aren’t excited about the prospect of surgery, but in some cases it is necessary. Educating yourself about your procedure and talking with your surgeon can make the process less stressful.
Colorectal surgeons perform a wide variety of surgical procedures to treat conditions affecting the colon and rectum, including polyps, diverticulitis, rectal cancer and more. Most of these surgeries can be performed using minimally invasive techniques, meaning the surgeon makes small cuts and uses thin long surgical instruments and a laparoscope (a telescope with a camera lens) to view the affected area and guide the surgery.
This allows the surgeon to avoid cutting through and damaging important blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the colon. It also reduces the amount of time you need to spend in the hospital. Often, patients are discharged within two to four days of their operation.
During colorectal surgery, you’ll be under general anesthesia. The surgeon will talk to you before the surgery and explain what’s going to happen. You’ll probably be in the operating room for about 30 minutes to an hour. You’ll be taken to the recovery room after the surgery. Depending on your situation, you might stay in the hospital for up to six days.
A small percentage of people have complications after colorectal surgery. These include pain and discomfort that is usually controlled with medicine, changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation, and infection. If you develop a problem with your colon during recovery, it’s important to follow up with your doctor right away.
You’ll also need to follow postoperative care instructions for a speedy recovery. These can include following a liquid diet and restricting certain activities that put strain on the abdomen. You may need to wear a drain for a short period after your surgery to remove excess fluids from your belly.
A major goal of our Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program is to get you back to your normal life as quickly and comfortably as possible. ERAS is now a standard of care at all Mass General Brigham hospitals and includes a number of steps before, during and after your surgery.