Colorectal surgeons are experts in surgical care for the large intestine (colon), anus, and pelvic floor. They can treat a variety of conditions affecting these areas, from benign hemorrhoids to cancer.
A colorectal surgeon, formerly known as proctologists, is a general surgeon who has specialized in surgery for your large intestine (your colon, rectum and anus). They are experts in conditions of the lower digestive tract including hemorrhoids, anal fistulas, diverticulitis, rectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. They perform routine colon screening examinations and surgically treat problems when necessary. Visit https://www.drwesleyhigh.com/ to learn more.
To become a colorectal surgeon, medical doctors spend 5 years in surgery residency, gaining experience performing all types of surgeries from gallbladder removal to hernia repair. They then spend an additional year in colon and rectal surgery specialty training. During this time, they become expert in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of all problems of the colon, rectum and anus.
The skills that a colorectal surgeon has learned during this subspecialty training include both endoscopic and traditional surgery, as well as minimally invasive techniques. This broad range of skills allows them to address your gastrointestinal problems with the best possible care, whether they can be treated nonsurgically or surgically.
They are able to diagnose and treat problems such as hemorrhoids, anal fistulas, pelvic floor disorders and fecal incontinence. They are also trained to perform sigmoidoscopies, which are endoscopic examinations of your sigmoid colon, rectum and anus.
For patients with serious cases of diverticulitis, your health care team may recommend surgery to remove the diseased segments of your colon or rectum. In most cases, the bowel is then internally reconnected. Sometimes, this is not possible and your doctor may create a hole in the abdominal wall called a stoma or an ostomy. A colostomy bag is attached to the stoma to collect waste. A stoma can be temporary or permanent, depending on the condition causing it and your body’s response to surgery.
When addressing inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, your health care team may suggest removing the entire colon. This is usually done if the disease has spread to other parts of your body or causes life-threatening complications, such as severe bleeding or infection. Sometimes, they may recommend a less invasive procedure called ileoanal anastomosis or J-pouch surgery. During this procedure, your surgeon creates a pouch shaped like the letter J from the end of your small intestine and attaches it to the end of your rectum. After it heals, the ostomy is closed and you are able to pass stool normally again.
How do Colorectal Surgeons Treat Patients?
Colorectal surgeons use advanced diagnostic techniques and minimally invasive surgery to treat diseases and conditions that impact your large intestine, colon and anus. These conditions can range from benign issues like polyps to more serious concerns such as cancer. You may be referred to a colorectal surgeon by your primary care doctor or gastroenterologist. Symptoms can include blood in your stool, chronic constipation, abdominal pain or bowel movements that are painful or not normal.
Your colorectal surgeon will review your symptoms, medical history and perform diagnostic tests to determine what condition you have and the best course of treatment. These may include a colonoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy and ultrasound.
Depending on the results of your diagnostic tests, colorectal surgeons can treat you nonsurgically, through laparoscopic or open surgery or with a combination of the two. These treatments are designed to remove or manage tumors, relieve inflammation from Crohn’s disease and repair problems with your rectum or anus.
If you are diagnosed with cancer, your colorectal surgeon will work closely with radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and other specialists to develop a comprehensive treatment plan. They can offer you surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to help reduce your risk of recurrence or death.
Our colorectal surgeons are also experts in reconstructive surgeries such as creating a new “pouch” from intestinal tissue to replace your colon or rectum. They are able to maintain or restore continence by repairing anus and rectal defects, including anal fistula, ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) and colorectal carcinomatosis.
A colorectal surgeon, or proctologist, is a general surgeon with specialized training in the diagnosis and surgical management of disorders of the colon, rectum and anus. They are board certified by the American Board of Surgery or American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. This certification demonstrates their dedication to excellence in patient care.
What Happens During Surgery?
Before surgery, your doctor will update the medical staff on your health history. Then they will check your vital signs, such as blood pressure and breathing. They will also mark the area that will be operated on and insert an IV (flexible tube placed in a vein to deliver medications) in your arm or hand.
Then you will be taken to the operating room. Before you go into the surgical area, you will be given anesthesia by a highly trained specialist (anesthesiologist). You will become unconscious during the procedure. Anesthesia may be delivered intravenously, through a thin tube in your arm, or by breathing it in as a gas (general anesthesia). You will be connected to monitors that record your heart rate and blood pressure. A tube may be inserted in your throat to help you breathe during surgery (intubation). You will be on a stainless steel table with sterile instruments.
After surgery you will be taken to a recovery area, often in a high dependency unit (HDU) or intensive care unit (ICU). The nurses there will watch over you and will give you any medicine that is needed. You may feel nauseous or vomit from the anesthesia, but there are medicines to stop these side effects. Your body temperature will be kept stable with warm blankets.
If you are able to sit up, you will be encouraged to do so after a while to prevent the formation of blood clots in your legs. Your family or friends may visit you. They will need to wash their hands before and after touching you or the wound. They should also avoid putting pressure on the area around the incision.
When you are ready to go home, the nurse will make sure that you know how to take care of your wound and that you have a responsible adult with you to drive you or get you a bus or cab to get home safely. It is important that you have someone to stay with you until the pain medicine wears off.
After surgery, you will need to be careful not to disturb your incision or the dressings. It is very important that you take your medication as directed by your doctor. If you are having trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice. If you are having pain that is not controlled or that gets worse, call your doctor right away.
What Happens After Surgery?
After surgery, you will be moved from the operating room to a larger area that is equipped with medical monitoring equipment and specially trained staff called the Recovery Room (also known as Post-Anesthetic Care Unit). Your family can wait in a special waiting area and we will update them every few hours on how your surgery is going. You will be given medicine to control pain and any nausea you may have.
You will have an intravenous (IV) line, which allows your doctor to give you fluids and medicines directly into a vein in your arm. Your blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and breathing will be monitored throughout your hospital stay. You will also have blood tests done regularly to monitor any medications that you are taking.
Bruising and swelling — It is normal to have bruising and swelling after surgery, although this will vary from person to person. The bruising may take from one to several months to go away. Changes in sensation — It is normal to feel less sensitive to pressure, heat or pain on the chest wall after surgery. This is due to the nerves healing or growing back into these areas and can sometimes last permanently. You might also feel prickling or stinging in these areas.
Sleepiness or dizziness — You may feel sleepy or dizzy after surgery, but this is usually temporary and will go away with time. You will be encouraged to move around as much as possible after your operation. This will help prevent the muscles from getting weak (atrophy).
Nausea or vomiting — It is common to feel nauseous (sick to your stomach) or vomit after surgery, especially if you have general anesthesia. The medication that controls your pain will also control these symptoms.
If you are taking blood-thinning medication, it is important to drink lots of liquids to prevent a blood clot. You should not lift anything over 10 pounds for a while after your surgery to avoid pulling on or stretching the sutures. Your surgeon will tell you when it is safe to do these things again.