colon and rectal surgery

A colectomy is a type of colorectal surgery that focuses on removing part or all of the colon that has colorectal cancer symptoms. The procedure generally includes the removal of nearby lymph nodes as well. When a portion of the colon is removed, it would be referred to as a partial colectomy, a segmental resection, or a hemicolectomy. In this procedure, the robotic colorectal surgeon removes some portion of the colon, particularly the area that contains cancer and some of the healthy tissues on either side of the cancerous tissue.

In most cases, colectomy calls for approximately one-third of the colon to be removed depending on the location and size of the cancer. A total colectomy is when the lymph nodes in the surrounding area are removed with the entire colon.

Colectomies are also performed for other problems in addition to those caused by colorectal cancer symptoms. The presence of numerous polyps and/or inflammatory bowel disease may cause the removal of the colon.

Colectomies are generally done in one of two ways: either by using open colectomy or a minimally invasive colectomy. When open colectomy is performed, surgery is accomplished by making one long incision in the area of the abdomen. Minimally invasive colectomy surgery
is accomplished by making a number of tiny incisions in the abdomen, so that precision tools can be used to perform the colorectal surgery.

The laparoscope itself is a long tube that carries a high-intensity light and a high-resolution camera capable of transmitting images back to a console in the operating room. Tiny precision instruments are passed through other incisions in the abdomen, in which these tools are manipulated by the top robotic colorectal surgeon at the console to perform this precise surgery. Since the incisions involved with minimally invasive colectomy are much smaller than they would be for an open colectomy, patients can generally recover faster and are discharged from the hospital sooner.

The latest advancement in colorectal surgery is robotic colon and rectal surgery for colorectal cancer. This superior technology allows enhanced precision, control, and visualization during this delicate procedure. By using this procedure patient outcomes typically result in faster recovery, decreased pain, and decreased rates of complications. Since our best robotic colon and rectal surgeons started therobotic colorectal surgery program for their patients, the length of stay in the hospital has decreased by 50%, patients have reduced need for pain medications, and are having fewer recovery complications.