Colorectal Surgery

Colorectal surgery is a specialized medical field dedicated to addressing conditions affecting the rectum, anus, and colon. In essence, this surgical discipline encompasses a wide spectrum of disorders that influence the lower part of the digestive system. The lower digestive tract comprises the colon, a hollow tube extending from the small intestine to the anus. The colon’s role involves absorbing water and storing digested waste before elimination. The terminal segment of the colon is the rectum, housing sphincter muscles that prevent unintended waste expulsion through the anus.

When to Consult a Colorectal Surgeon

Seeking regular consultation with Dr Mumtaz Maher highly skilled and experienced colorectal surgeon holds immense advantages for your overall health and well-being. He is not only equipped to treat existing disturbances or irregularities within the colon, rectum, or anus, but also play a crucial role in preventive healthcare. By proactively addressing potential disorders and providing personalized guidance, He contribute significantly to your long-term health. Much like other medical conditions, early detection and intervention are paramount when it comes to issues related to the lower digestive tract. Regular consultations with our colorectal surgeon allow for the timely identification of any developing conditions, enabling prompt treatment and management. This proactive approach can lead to faster recovery times, reduced complications, and improved quality of life.

Types of Colorectal Surgery

Early-stage colon cancer can only be effectively treated through surgery. The operation that the patient gets, however, depends on three factors: where the cancer is in the colon, the aim of the surgery, and the stage of cancer. The patient’s colon needs to be empty before the surgery is performed. Besides laxatives and/or enemas that remove the stool from the colon, the patient is put on a strict diet to ensure no stool is in the colon.

There are several types of colorectal surgery, some of which are discussed below:

Endoscopic Surgery

A pliable tube attached with a camera at the edge and a scope are the equipment used for this operation. There is fewer pain and discomfort with this surgery, and the healing process is quick because the colorectal surgeon does not make major incisions.

Colectomy

This is an operation done to remove part of or the whole large intestines. There are three subtypes of this colorectal surgery:

Polypectomy – here, the colorectal specialist uses a colonoscopy to abolish a malignant polyps or polyp from the colon or rectum.
Segmental Colectomies – this is where the part carrying the disease is cut out by making a vertical incision at the abdomen’s center.
Total Colectomy and Total Proctocolectomy – this is the operation to remove the entire large intestines. An illness like familial polyposis requires the surgeon to remove the whole colon and rectum.

Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis

This is a procedure whereby a pouch is created at the tip of the small intestine and attached to the anus. This operation is beneficial for the restoration of stool function in patients who have their entire colon removed. It is also known as J-Pouch.

Hemorrhoidectomy

Hemorrhoids can be treated using medications and simple steps, such as a change in lifestyle. However, if home remedies do not work for you, then it is time to consult a colorectal surgeon. Hemorrhoidectomy is a procedure performed by making incisions around the anus to remove the hemorrhoids. This is the most effective and permanent solution to hemorrhoids.

Procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids, also called stapled hemorrhoidectomy, involves stapling back the hemorrhoidal tissue back to its initial position and then cutting off any tissue that’s causing discomfort. This process is done using a circular stapling device. However, the doctor may decide to use rubber band ligation, which is done by placing a rubber band around hemorrhoid to destroy the tissue and inhibit blood supply.

Colostomy

During this procedure, the colorectal surgeon makes a wall on the patient’s abdominal wall and pulls one end of the large intestine through it. It is a surgical procedure that changes how the body excretes waste and fecal matter. A stoma is a place where the hole was made. Colostomy can either be permanent or temporary.

A temporary colostomy is used in instances where the colon will need to be placed back to its original position at a later date. A permanent colostomy is for chronic illnesses, such as diverticular and Crohn’s diseases.

Internal Sphincterotomy

This is the treatment for anal fissures, which occurs when the rectum’s mucus lining develops some tears. Medications and dietary alterations can be effective in treating fissures. Nevertheless, if they do not work on you, then Internal Sphincterotomy is your only option.

The internal sphincter is a muscle that opens and closes to let out stool from the body. This procedure aims at cutting or stretching this muscle to make it weak temporarily and allow it to heal. Local anesthetics or spine anesthetics are used to numb the sphincter area or the entire lower body, respectively, during this surgery.

Rectopexy

Rectopexy is a surgical procedure for rectal prolapse treatment. Using laxatives and stool softeners, and diet change can be a cure for patients with mild rectal prolapse. If the condition is severe, the patient may be an applicant for the rectopexy procedure.

Are there any Side Effects of Colorectal Surgery?

People are different, and so are their bodies. Experiencing any side effects after the surgery is determined by your general health before the operation and the severity of the condition that is being treated. Overall, the following are some of the side effects that one may experience after colorectal surgery:

The patient may feel some pain after the surgery, requiring them to use pain relievers for a few days.
For a few days, the patient may be required to take a limited amount of liquids and avoid solid foods. This will give the colon enough time to heal completely.
Anesthesia or how the bowel was handled during the operation could lead to your bowel taking a long time before it resumes working perfectly. Such an instance is called ileus .
Sometimes, the connections joining the ends of the colon may not hold together well, and this could cause some leakages. Besides making the belly feel hard, such an occurrence can cause a lot of pain, discomfort, and fever. Such a leak could also lead to infections, and more surgical procedures may be needed to fix such an issue.
Adhesions occur when the scar tissue on the patient’s abdomen causes tissues and organs to stick together.

How do you Tell if you Need Colorectal Surgery?

There are several signs and symptoms to look out for when determining whether you have colorectal cancer or not. The symptoms may not show immediately, but if they do, they are likely to be one or more of the following:

Rectal bleeding. The blood that comes out during rectal bleeding is bright red.
Unintentional weight loss.
Feeling weak and exhausted.
Cramps and abdominal pains are also signs to watch out for.
Blood droplets that make your stool appear black or dark brown.
Bowel habits alterations, such as diarrhea, nausea, or constipation, which last more than just a few days.