A colorectal surgeon treats problems with your colon, rectum, anus and pelvic floor. They may be able to improve your quality of life by treating symptoms such as hemorrhoids and inflammatory bowel disease.
While many medical professionals treat conditions that affect the lower digestive tract, a colorectal surgeon has additional training in these procedures. They also have expertise in the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques. Visit https://www.drwesleyhigh.com/ to learn more.
If your primary care physician detects a possible problem with your lower digestive tract, they may refer you to a colorectal surgeon for an official diagnosis. A colorectal surgeon has completed specialized training in the surgical care of conditions affecting your colon, rectum and anus.
Your health care team may start with a physical exam and your family and personal medical history. They will also order a number of tests. These can include a fecal occult blood test, which checks your stool for blood that cannot be seen with the naked eye. A sigmoidoscopy and/or colonoscopy will allow your doctor to examine the inside of your colon and rectum, removing any polyps or other suspicious growths that they find.
Other tests can help your doctor determine if the tumor is malignant, or if it has spread. They can include CT or MRI scans of your abdomen, pelvic area and chest. A PET scan may also be used, which can measure the activity of your cancer cells. Your doctor will also check for tumor markers, such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which can be elevated in patients with colon cancer.
A colonoscopy is a surgery that involves inserting a long, flexible tube with a camera on one end into your rectum and colon to examine the interior. Your surgeon can perform this procedure laparoscopically or robotically, which has less pain and faster healing, compared with traditional open surgery.
Another condition that can be diagnosed with a colonoscopy is diverticulitis, a condition in which small bulging pouches develop in your digestive tract. This condition can be painful and may cause infection and complications such as a colostomy. Your doctor will likely recommend surgery to remove the diseased segment of your bowel and then reconnect the healthy segments.
Your doctor will recommend a clear liquid diet for several days before your procedure and cleanse your colon with strong laxatives in a process called bowel prep. During this time, you will need to empty your bladder often and record the results in a journal. The length of your hospital stay varies depending on the type of surgery you undergo.
Treatment
A colorectal surgeon, also known as a proctologist, is a general surgeon who has completed additional training in the diagnosis and surgical care of diseases that affect the colon, rectum and anus. This includes benign and malignant conditions that can affect your ability to digest food and produce bowel movements.
Your primary care physician may refer you to a colorectal surgeon when your symptoms indicate that there might be an issue with your lower digestive tract. This is because a colorectal surgeon has extensive training in the area and can quickly assess your condition to determine what course of treatment is best for you.
In some cases, a colorectal surgeon will recommend that you begin treatment with dietary changes and physical therapy. But if these aren’t effective or your symptoms become more severe, surgery might be necessary. An experienced colorectal surgeon will use minimally invasive procedures when possible to reduce pain, risk and recovery time for their patients.
Some of the most common colorectal surgeries include:
Polypectomy — removal of small growths in your colon that might be cancerous. Strictureplasty — relieves narrowing in your colon caused by inflammation from Crohn’s disease. Colon cancer — removal of a tumor or part of your colon when it’s found early. Abdominoperineal resection — removing your colon from the boney portion of the pelvis, which is sometimes needed when a tumor has grown into the rectum sphincter.
During surgery, your colon or rectum might need to be attached to an opening in the abdomen called a stoma. This might be done if your colon has been removed due to cancer or if you’ve had a colon resection due to an accident or illness. Once you’ve recovered, a doctor can reverse your colostomy or ileostomy so that you can eat and drink normally again.
While recovery from surgery can take a while, it’s important to have a team of health care professionals by your side who can help manage your pain and provide support. In most cases, your health care team will prescribe you medication to control any discomfort following surgery. It’s also important to eat a well-balanced diet while you’re recovering from colorectal surgery so that your body can get the nutrition it needs to heal properly.
Preparation
You may be referred to a colorectal surgeon by your primary care physician or gastroenterologist (a specialist in gastrointestinal conditions). You will need to follow bowel prep instructions before surgery. These are designed to cleanse your lower digestive tract of food and feces, and they help your doctor achieve a clean surgical site that can minimize postoperative infections.
During a bowel prep, you will drink clear liquids and a laxative solution, either at home or in the hospital. These liquids will help you empty your colon before your surgery, which can take several hours to complete. The bowel preparation process is important because your colon contains many bacteria, and a clean surgical field helps reduce the risk of infection after surgery.
Your doctor may also prescribe a stool softener and an anti-inflammatory medication. It’s best to stop taking any medications that contain aspirin or ibuprofen, which can decrease blood clotting during surgery and increase bleeding risks. You should also purchase 2 saline enemas at the pharmacy before your procedure to use at home. These can be purchased without a prescription at your local drugstore, but be sure to talk with your surgeon about preparing for surgery and the supplies you’ll need for recovery.
If your doctor can’t internally reconnect the rectum or anus, he or she will create a hole in the abdomen and attach the intestine to the skin with a plastic tube called a stoma. The stoma is then connected to a bag that collects waste. This is a surgical procedure known as a colostomy, and it can treat severe complications such as intestinal blockages, fistulas and cancer.
During your operation, you will have intravenous catheters placed so the nurse can administer medications during surgery, and you will be attached to a urinary catheter to drain urine from your bladder. The surgery itself can be done with open or minimally invasive techniques. If you have an open procedure, you will need to stay in the hospital for several days. Minimally invasive surgery requires a shorter hospital stay. After you return home, you will need to follow dietary restrictions and other preoperative instructions for recovery.
Recovery
The recovery process after colorectal surgery will vary depending on the surgical procedure performed. Patients undergoing colon resection may be hospitalized for several days to a week, during which time they are not given solid foods and only receive nutrients through intravenous tubes. Clear liquids are slowly introduced after this and the patient is instructed when he or she can start eating solid foods again. Patients can expect to be sore around the incisions and feel weak for a while after surgery.
Your doctor will discuss your recovery options with you before the surgery and answer any questions you might have. He or she will also tell you what to expect from the procedure and how long it will take to recover fully.
Some common conditions that colorectal surgeons treat include colon polyps, rectal cancer, diverticulitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Other conditions treated by colorectal surgeons include anal rectal surgery and rectum prolapse (a condition that causes the lower abdominal muscles to weaken, which can cause fecal incontinence).
Before you have colorectal surgery, your doctor will ask for medical history, perform a physical exam, order laboratory tests, and get an electrocardiogram. You may need a computed tomography (CT) scan of your abdomen before the operation as well.
During your recovery, it is important to stay hydrated and to exercise as often as possible. This helps to prevent blood clots and promotes healing. Your doctor will recommend certain activities and exercises for you to avoid and others that are safe to do.
You should also make sure to take any pain medications as directed by your doctor. Be aware that pain medication can lead to constipation, so it’s important to use stool softeners if necessary. You should also make sure to talk to your doctor about other ways to manage your pain if you’re not having success with the prescribed drugs.
Once your recovery is over, your doctor will advise you on how to care for yourself at home and when it’s okay to resume your normal routine. He or she will give you specific instructions about what to do if you have an ileostomy or colostomy, including how to clean and change your colostomy bag as needed.
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