Colorectal surgery is a specialized field in surgery deals with bowel problems. This involves surgical and non surgical management of various abdominal, rectal and anal conditions. Colorectal surgery deals with ailments in relation to bowels from small bowel to anus and perianal conditions. Any abdominal pain, Bowel habit change, loose stools, bowel infections, bowel inflammation, rectal bleeding, cancers involving bowels and rectum, carrying out endoscopy tests (endoscopy and colonoscopy), dealing with cancerous and non cancerous anal and rectal conditions – haemorrhoids, fissures, fistula, perianal abscesses, Pilonoidal abscesses etc, laparoscopy or keyhole surgery, Irritable bowels, ventral or incisional hernias, rectal prolapse, problems of control of bowels – incontinence, rectal cancer, anal cancer etc.
Colorectal surgery encompasses treating, investigation and carrying out surgeries and management involving super-specialities; intestinal failure surgery, Proctology, Laparoscopic bowel surgery, bowel cancer surgery, hereditary conditions, complex abdominal surgical conditions, Inflammatory bowel disease, functional bowel conditions.
Intestinal failure surgery
These patients have diseased and functionally impaired bowels due to various reasons. Those who have had inflammatory bowel disease, various complex surgeries with complications, patients left with inadequate length of bowels, those with bowel fistula, functional bowel abnormalities who require surgery are best dealt with by colorectal surgeons specially trained in intestinal failure surgery.
Proctology
If you have piles(haemorrhoids), fissures, fistula, perianal abscess, faecal incontinence, Pilonoidal abscess or any other perianal condition or any abnormality in the perineal region they need to be managed very carefully by specially trained colorectal surgeons. Even though it does not happen regularly if any of these conditions are not managed properly patient can loose the control of the anal sphincter or become incontinent to various degrees.
Laparoscopy colorectal surgery
Some colorectal surgeons are specially trained to carry out minimally invasive or keyhole surgery to deal with various abdominal conditions. These include appendicectomy, gall bladder surgery, bowel cancer surgery, cancer of the rectum, various functional problems etc. This type of surgery will leave you with a small scar, less pain if there is any, faster recovery, ability to return home and to your day to day activities quickly, less incidence of scar related complications like incisional hernias, superior outcome or comparable outcome with open surgeries especially appendicitis, bowel cancer clearance and better surgical access with rectal cancer giving the chance to restore continuity and function in patients otherwise who will end up with a stoma or a bag.
Bowel cancer
This includes cancers involving small and large bowel. Cancer surgery of abdomen can involve other organs as well. Depending on the location of the cancer it is necessary to carry out most appropriate procedure to give the patient best functional and cancer related (Oncological) outcome. Colorectal surgeons are especially trained to do this compared other surgeons who deal with cancers or other conditions. It is proven with literature that outcome of bowel cancers is better in the hands of colorectal surgeons.
Complex abdominal surgery
If you have had many surgeries or complicated surgeries of the abdomen before or if one needs surgery for and advanced cancer then it is best dealt with by colorectal surgeons who are well trained to deal with them. Timing and selection of the most appropriate procedure for them is the key to success in this type of surgery which can be successfully done by colorectal surgeons.
Inflammatory bowel disease
There are some conditions in the bowel which are categorized as inflammatory bowel disease. Most known are Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. But there are various other inflammatory conditions in bowel may be due to infections – Infective colitis, non specific colitis, colitis due to impaired blood supply to bowel – ischemic colitis etc. Some of these conditions can lead to cancer of the bowel, some can get complicated forming pus collections, fistula, bowel blockage – intestinal obstructions etc. and they are best dealt by colorectal surgeons. Some conditions especially can be totally cured by surgery e.g ulcerative colitis.
Functional bowel conditions
Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS), constipation, non resolving loose motions, rectal prolapse may need surgical care. If your physician or general practitioner decide to send you to a surgeons it is best be managed by especially trained colorectal surgeons than by other surgeons.