Is There a Minimally Invasive Approach to Colon Surgery?

The thought of colon surgery is scary for most people. However, if you suffer from a bowel obstruction or colon cancer, then surgery is often a necessity. Every colon surgery is different because no two patients and their circumstances are identical. One patient may be able to successfully undergo a minimally invasive form of colon surgery, but another may require more aggressive surgical intervention.

Our surgeons at Sierra Pacific Surgical near Sacramento, CA, will meet with you to go over your unique requirements. Colon surgeries focus on removing the cancerous portion of the colon or the area of obstruction. In some situations, if a malignancy is involved, the nearby lymph nodes might also require removal along with surrounding tissue. With a bowel obstruction, minimally invasive surgery is often the go-to treatment choice, but in some cases, open surgery is required.

Colon surgery for bowel obstruction

With bowel obstruction surgery, our team always tries to take a minimally invasive approach, if possible. They will create a small incision in your abdomen and insert a laparoscope into the intestines. Using special instruments, our surgeons will remove the obstruction. If your bowels have suffered any damage, our surgeons will focus on repairing the damaged tissues. Sometimes, a bowel obstruction cannot be treated with a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Instead, our team will have to rely on an open surgical approach.

Surgical treatment of colon cancer

Colon cancer that has been diagnosed early is often exceedingly small and easy to treat with minimally invasive surgery. Often, our surgeons can remove the cancerous polyps (known as a polypectomy) during a colonoscopy. In other cases, an endoscopic mucosal resection is needed to remove a small area of the colon’s wall. Another minimally invasive colon surgery approach for colon cancer is the use of robotic surgery using the da Vinci® surgical system. With such a minimally invasive colon surgery, our surgeons will make small incisions in your abdomen to reach the cancerous area of the colon. Our team may have to perform a colectomy via laparoscopic or robotic surgery, depending on your situation.

Advanced colon cancer will normally require open surgery to remove all or a portion of the colon, lymph nodes, and tissue. The surgeon will need to then reconnect the colon or use a colostomy if the colon portions cannot successfully be reconnected. With a colostomy, the surgeon takes the healthy end of the colon and affixes it to an opening in the abdominal wall where a colostomy bag is attached to collect waste.

How long does colon surgery take?

The length of time it takes to conduct a colon surgery varies depending on the surgical technique used. Some surgeries are carried out in an hour, and others can take up to four hours.

Schedule a colon surgery consultation near Sacramento, CA

Whether you are suffering from colon cancer or a bowel obstruction, we invite you to consult with our surgeons and our team at Sierra Pacific Surgical in Folsom or Roseville, CA to learn about our minimally invasive approach to colon surgery. Our surgeons know that every patient is different so they will review your health history, carry out a full physical exam and discuss their suggestions with you to determine what type of colon surgery will best fit your needs. Please schedule a consultation today.