If you have a condition affecting the colon and rectum, your primary care doctor or gastroenterologist may refer you to a colorectal surgeon. Our specialists are skilled in minimally invasive surgical techniques that improve your health and recovery.

They can also perform traditional “open” surgery when necessary. They also specialize in fecal incontinence (inability to control the passage of stool) procedures. Contact Colorectal Surgeon Phoenix for professional help.

If you have a condition that impacts your colon and rectum, your primary care doctor may refer you to a colorectal surgeon. In some cases, surgery is the best treatment option for certain conditions such as rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and anal fistulas.

A colorectal surgeon (also called a proctologist) is a general surgeon who has undergone advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect your large intestine, the anus and the perianal area. While some general surgeons include colon and rectal surgery in their practice, colorectal surgeons specialize solely in these areas.

To become a colorectal surgeon, you first complete five years of surgical residency. During this time, you learn how to perform a variety of surgeries including gallbladder, hernia and breast surgeries. You also undergo an additional year of specialization in colon and rectal surgery to train you in the delicate techniques required to treat conditions involving your colorectum, anus and perianal region.

During this training, you learn how to diagnose and treat issues such as hemorrhoids, anal fistulas and anal cancer. You also gain expertise in performing a procedure called transanal endoscopic microsurgery, which is used to remove early-stage rectal tumors and polyps and to treat irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease.

Because of the delicate nature of this type of surgery, a colorectal surgeon spends an extensive amount of time studying intestinal and anorectal physiology, which enables them to understand how your body’s organs work together. This knowledge translates into a superior surgical skill set that makes you more likely to have a successful and rapid recovery.

What Can I Expect from a Colorectal Surgeon?

Colorectal surgeons like Elizabeth Wood treat a wide variety of conditions that affect the lower gastrointestinal tract. Those conditions range from benign issues like hemhorroids and Inflammatory Bowel Disease to colon and rectal cancers. Wood and her team are experts in the field, and they look for the least invasive surgical technique possible to minimize scarring and risk of complications.

A patient might first be referred to a colorectal surgeon by their general physician or gastroenterologist. The specialist might recommend surgery if they believe that the patient’s symptoms will not respond to other treatment options. For example, hemorrhoids can be very painful and may not improve after non-surgical treatments like creams or rubber band ligation. In addition, recurrent or severe diverticulitis can require surgical removal of the affected portion of the colon to promote healing.

Most of the time, doctors will perform a laparoscopy or a colonoscopy to diagnose the condition in question. After they do this, they will decide whether a patient needs to undergo a more invasive surgery or if less invasive procedures are an option.

Some patients might need to undergo chemotherapy or radiation along with surgery to treat cancerous polyps or tumors. In some cases, removing the entire colon might be necessary if a tumor has spread beyond the colon.

Because a colorectal surgeon has extensive training in both general and colon and rectal surgery, they are also equipped to treat other organs that interact with or are affected by the large intestine. Some of these other organs include the gallbladder, hernias, and pelvic floor. They are also capable of performing many other types of surgeries, including hernia repair and breast reconstruction surgery.

Will I Have to Eat or Use the Bathroom Normally After Surgery?

Your large intestine, which also is called your lower gastrointestinal tract, is the final part of the journey food takes to exit your body. When problems occur with the colon or rectum, you may see a colorectal surgeon to get treatment. The surgeon may perform a simple procedure in the office or a more complex surgery with a hospital stay.

A major side effect of surgery is constipation, because the general anesthesia you receive during surgery slows down your bowel movements. This can be especially problematic when you are taking medications that cause constipation, such as pain relievers.

The best way to prevent constipation after surgery is to drink plenty of fluids, mainly water and juices like prune juice. You can even take stool softeners to help prevent the problem, although you should talk to your surgeon about this before you do. The surgeon may recommend trying over-the-counter treatments for constipation such as a bowel stimulant or laxatives, but it’s important to always speak with your surgeon before using any OTC medication, as some are not safe to use after surgery.

You may also need to start eating more fiber to promote bowel movement. Speak to your doctor about when you can increase the amount of fiber in your diet, and try to do this gradually after surgery. In addition, if you have an ileostomy or colostomy, the stoma care nurses can give you detailed dietary advice. They may also recommend a stool softener that you can buy without a prescription, such as Citrucel, Metamucil or FiberCon. The stoma care nurses will let you know what foods and beverages to avoid or to limit, as they can cause discomfort or add to the pressure on your incision.

How Long Will My Recovery Be?

The duration of your recovery from colorectal surgery will depend on the type of procedure you have and your health status. During your initial consultation, our surgeons will provide you with a time frame that takes into consideration all of these factors. They will also consider unforeseen complications that may extend your recovery.

Virtua’s colon and rectal specialists have extensive training in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases and conditions that affect the colon, rectum and anus. This includes inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, polyps, diverticulosis, diverticulitis and rectal cancer.

Our physicians have expertise in various types of surgeries, including laparoscopic surgery, which involves making several small abdominal incisions. A thin tube with a camera (laparoscope) is inserted into one of the incisions to see the affected area. The surgeon then inserts surgical tools into the other incisions to remove or change the affected tissue. This method allows you to recover faster than with traditional open surgery.

We also perform robotic surgery, which is similar to laparoscopic surgery but offers more precision and dexterity. This technique requires a smaller incision, which can further reduce your recovery time.

Other procedures our surgeons can perform include a colostomy, which creates an opening in the abdomen to allow waste to pass through the intestine into a bag outside of the body. This can be temporary or permanent. A sphincterotomy corrects anal fistulas, which are small tears in the lining of the anus or anal canal that cause pain during bowel movements.

In addition to performing surgical procedures, our team conducts cutting-edge research into gastrointestinal diseases and colon and rectal cancers. Virtua GI and Digestive Health researchers are involved in national and international trials to help develop better methods of diagnosing, treating and preventing these conditions.

Will I Need to See a Pain Management Specialist?

Your large intestine (or colon) is the last part of your gastrointestinal tract that food takes before exiting your body. This area is home to a number of conditions, such as diverticular disease, which involves the formation of small pouches in your large intestine; Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel condition that affects the entire digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus; rectal cancer, which often requires surgery to remove tumors; and polyps, abnormal cells that can grow into malignant growths.

Because colorectal surgeons are specialists, they are able to treat conditions of the large intestine with sensitivity and skill. This includes performing complex reconstructive surgery to maintain or restore the function of the colon and rectum after surgical removal due to a disease such as colorectal cancer. For example, they can use intestinal tissue to create a new “pouch” in the colon, which will prevent blood loss and promote healing.

They also offer other surgical procedures, including minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques that do not require cutting into your abdomen. For instance, Mass General is one of few institutions to offer the cutting-edge procedure known as transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), which uses a special microscope to remove rectal tumors and polyps without cuts in your abdomen or anus.

Pain management specialists can provide an invaluable service to patients suffering from chronic pain. They may work with a patient’s primary care provider or gastroenterologist to coordinate surgical and nonsurgical treatment in line with their overall health goals. They can also help individuals navigate their medication regimens, offering strategies that minimize dependency while ensuring effective pain control. When paired with physical therapy, nerve blocks and other modalities, this can have significant impacts on recovery trajectories.

Tags: colonoscopy, colorectal surgeon, robotic hernia surgery, skin tag removal, surgeon