Center for Intestinal & Colorectal Surgery

Introduction

Our Center for Intestinal & Colorectal Surgery treat benign and malignant conditions and perform routine screening examinations. A colectomy is an operation to remove part or all of your colon. It’s also called colon resection surgery. You may need a colectomy if part or all of your colon has stopped working or if it has an incurable condition that endangers other parts. Common reasons include colon cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases.The preferred approach for colon and rectal cancer resection is laparoscopic colorectal surgery using advanced techniques. It is proven to be equivalent to traditional surgery for treating colon cancer. In addition, this minimally invasive surgical option provides patients with a faster return of bowel function, reduced postoperative pain and improved cosmetic results.

Conditions treated at our Center for Intestinal & Colorectal Surgery:

• Anorectal diseases
• Colonoscopy
• Colorectal cancer
• Complex perianal disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Diverticulitis
• Fecal incontinence
• Fissures & Fistulas in Ano
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• J-pouch surgery
• Laparoscopic colorectal surgery
• Rectal prolapse
• Sphincter-preserving surgery

Open vs. laparoscopic surgery

Colectomy may be performed by traditional open surgery or by minimally-invasive laparoscopic surgery.

• Open surgery means that your abdominal cavity is opened through a long incision. This method provides the best access to your organs and may be necessary if your case is more complicated or if emergency surgery is needed.
• Laparoscopic and robotic surgery is performed through several small incisions using a tiny video camera called a laparoscope. In a laparoscopic/robotic colectomy, your surgeon begins with a single small incision through which the laparoscope is inserted. Carbon dioxide gas is then pumped through the incision to inflate your abdominal cavity for better visibility. A camera is then placed to project your organs onto a video screen. Through one or more other small incisions, your surgeon will get special tools to access your colon.

Colon( Large Intestine) resection variations

You may need all or only part of your colon ( Large Intestine) removed. Operations to remove different sections of the colon have different names.

Total colectomy

A total colectomy removes your entire large intestine. It begins at the end of your small intestine and ends at your rectum, the tail end of the large intestine that leads into the anal canal.

Partial/subtotal colectomy

A subtotal or partial colectomy removes a portion of your large intestine. Your operation may go by a more specific name that references the section of your colon removed. For example:

• Sigmoid colectomy. A sigmoid colectomy, or sigmoidectomy, removes the last section of your colon, known as the sigmoid colon. The sigmoid is the part that connects to your rectum.
• Hemicolectomy. A hemicolectomy removes one side of your colon. A left-side hemicolectomy removes your descending colon, the section that travels downward on the left. A right-side hemicolectomy removes your ascending colon, the section that travels upward on the right side. This is roughly the first half of your colon.
• Proctocolectomy. A proctocolectomy removes part or all of the colon and the rectum. “Procto” means rectum. (A total proctocolectomy removes the entire colon and rectum.)