Millions of people suffer from gastrointestinal diseases and conditions that affect the large intestine or colon. While many diseases respond to nonsurgical interventions, more serious issues may require a colectomy to remove all or part of the colon.
At Desert West Surgery, our team offers comprehensive care for all digestive diseases and conditions, including conservative, nonsurgical therapies and state-of-the-art colon surgery, like colectomy. In this post, learn what colectomy involves and when our team typically recommends it as the best option for preserving colon health.
Your colon plays a critical role in digestion and supporting your overall health and wellness. Shaped like a large, upside-down U, the colon absorbs water, nutrients, and electrolytes so they can be disseminated throughout your body via your bloodstream. Then, it transports the remaining material as stool that’s eliminated via your rectum and anus.
Colectomy surgery removes part of the colon that’s affected by disease or other conditions that impair normal bowel function or negatively affect your health. Colectomy surgery can be divided into four “types” depending on how much colon is removed.
In the last phase of the surgery, the end of the colon is attached to the rest of the colon, the anus, or an external pouch that collects stool, again depending on how much of the colon is removed and which part is removed.
Our team offers traditional colectomy using larger incisions and minimally invasive colectomy using the state-of-the-art da Vinci® Surgical System. The da Vinci system uses robot technology for greater precision using small incisions. The approach used in your surgery depends on many factors, including the reason for your surgery, how much colon is being removed, and other factors.
Colectomy surgery is usually recommended only after more conservative options have been tried and have failed to provide the desired outcome. It’s also recommended when conservative treatments aren’t feasible. These are the most common reasons we recommend colectomy for our patients.
Roughly 160,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer every year. Colectomy surgery removes the portion of the colon (large intestine) that’s affected by the cancer to maintain bowel function while preventing cancer from spreading.
A bowel obstruction happens when the colon is blocked, preventing normal bowel function. Scar tissue, hernias, strictures, or other causes can cause blockages. It’s a life-threatening condition that requires emergency treatment.
IBD is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes ulcers (sores) and tissue damage inside your colon. Colectomy removes the damaged portions of your intestine to support improved bowel function and reduce the risk of serious complications, like uncontrolled bleeding.
Diverticula are tiny pouches that sometimes form in the lining of your intestine. If these pouches become infected, they can cause serious problems. Colectomy may be recommended to treat persistent or recurrent diverticulitis that doesn’t respond to other therapies.
Colectomy may also be recommended in certain circumstances to prevent a disease from progressing to a more serious stage. For example, we may recommend it for a patient who is at serious risk of developing colon cancer in the future.
Serious bowel problems can be treated — the key is “catching” them early. If you notice any changes in bowel habits or if you have symptoms like persistent or worsening cramps or bloody stools, don’t ignore them. To schedule an evaluation and consultation, call Desert West Surgery and schedule a visit at the Las Vegas location nearest you.
