Types of Colorectal Surgery

Types of Colon and Rectal Surgery

Types of colon and rectal surgery that you get can be based on a range of factors, including the stage of cancer, age of the patient and size of tumour growth. When it comes to colorectal and rectal care, surgeons will take considerable care in suggesting the best treatment for patients, be it non-surgical treatments or surgery.

Non-Surgical Treatments for Colon and Rectal Care:

Comprehensive and efficient non-surgical procedures are performed with the intention of maintaining a high degree of comfort for patients. These procedures may also be carried out as a precursor to a main treatment course. This includes:

  • Total Mesorectal Excision – The use of pelvic magnetic resonance imaging for the initial staging of rectal cancers.
  • Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy – Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells. It is commonly used in treating rectal cancer because this tumour tends to re-occur in the area and administered to patients who have a risk of locoregional recurrence. Chemoradiation is usually used in rectal cancer before surgery to avoid colostomy.
  • Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy – The use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, usually by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing and doubling. A chemotherapy regimen usually consists of different cycles that are given over a set period of time. A patient may receive one drug at a time or various combinations of different drugs at the same time.

Both chemotherapy and chemoradiation therapy are given for about 6 months before patients undergo surgery.

Traditional and Minimally Invasive Treatments of

Colon and Rectal Surgery:

In the earlier days, patients placed their utmost trust in traditional surgeries which involved making an incision of 6-12 inches in length. This provided surgeons with the opportunity to access abdominal organs with the use of hand-held surgical instruments.

However, thanks to advancements in the medical field, surgeons are now able to perform minimally invasive colon and rectal surgery with smaller incisions, thus reducing the discomfort and healing complications associated with traditional surgeries.

Being at the Frontline of Colorectal Health:

ParkCity Medical Centre (PMC) is committed to leading the way in providing optimum Colorectal Health services. PMC is devoted in ensuring that the right diagnosis and treatment is provided for anyone who needs it. Our long list of experts at PMC includes colorectal surgeons, oncologists, physicians and rehab specialists to ensure an optimised patient care.

Colon and rectal surgery provided by PMC:

  • Polypectomy – A procedure conducted to remove polyps (small growths on the inner lining of the colon). A special instrument known as colonoscope is inserted into your anus to examine the rectum and colon.
  • Local excision – A procedure performed to remove the cancer and some of the rectum wall to treat cancers in the rectum. It isn’t a major surgery, and your doctor may do it through the anus or through a small cut in the rectum.
  • Laparoscopic surgery – A procedure in which your doctor makes 3 to 6 small (5-10 millimetre) cuts in your stomach. Laparoscope and special laparoscopic instruments are inserted and this sends a picture of your organs to a video monitor for your doctor to see how the procedure can be conducted.
  • Colostomy – A surgeon creates a hole in your abdominal wall and pulls one end of the colon through the opening during a surgical procedure. This procedure alters how your body excretes waste and faecal matter. Colostomy may be either permanent or temporary. Temporary colostomies are performed on specific conditions that allow the reattachment of the colon at a later point in time. Once healed, you undergo a colostomy reversal procedure. Permanent colostomies are used in cases of chronic diseases such as Crohn’s disease and diverticular disease.
  • Endoscopic Surgery - Performed using a scope (flexible tube with a camera and light at the tip). This allows the surgeon to see the inside part of your colon and perform procedures without making any major incisions, thus allowing for faster and smooth recovery. Snaring is the most common surgical procedure that can be performed through any of the endoscope. A snare is a wire formed like a lasso that is looped over the tumour and tightened, the wire then is electrified to prevent bleeding as it cuts through.
  • Total Colectomy and Total Proctocolectomy - Diseases such as familial polyposis require the removal of the entire colon with anastomosis of the end of the small bowel to the rectum. A new pouch (neorectum) is created with the small bowel folded and stapled back on itself, this pouch is joined down to the anus.

Dr Law Chee Wei

Designation
Consultant General & Colorectal Surgeon
Specialty
General Surgery, Colorectal Surgery