Colon, Rectal, And Small Intestine Surgery

The large intestine (colon) and small intestine make up the part of the digestive system between the stomach and rectum. The intestines are critically important to the digestion of food after it leaves the stomach. The small intestine is over 10 feet long and folded snugly into the abdominal cavity. Important nutrients are absorbed through the sensitive lining of the small intestine after food is processed in the stomach. The colon, or large intestine is shorter and thicker and is the catalyst for absorbing water and vitamins as well as producing feces from the food we consume.

A number of diseases and disorders can be treated by performing surgery on the intestines and rectum by:

• Removing diseased portions of the intestines and resecting (sewing together) the healthy portions. This is called small bowel resection
• Removal of cancer or precancerous growths called polyps. These polyps are often identified during routine colonoscopies in patients over the age of 50
• Removing diseased parts of the colon due an inflammation or infection within the pockets in the large intestine (diverticula) that may develop  over time – diverticulitis
• Rectal prolapse, when the rectal attachments to the rest of the body are lost, the rectum may exit the body, essentially turning inside out
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which can often be treated through surgery on the colon or rectum. IBD is a comprehensive term for a group of autoimmune disorders including, most commonly, Crohn’s Diseases and Ulcerative Colitis

Our surgeons are highly experienced in the minimally invasive surgeries that treat many of the problems of the intestines and rectum. Our goal is to effectively treat the underlying cause of concern, while sparing as much of the digestive system as possible. Using advanced and accurate surgical technology and techniques, we are able to minimize disruptions to the digestive system.