Colorectal Surgery

What are types of colorectal surgery?

Colorectal surgeries are of various types depending on part of colon or rectum removed.

Types of colorectal surgeries are –

1. Hemicolectomy – removal of half of colon – right or left
2. Segemental resection of colon – removal of part of colon
3. Subtotal colectomy – removal of whole colon leaving small part behind
4. Total colectomy – removal of whole colon
5. Proctocolectomy- removal of whole colon and rectum
6. Anterior resection – removal of part of rectum
7. APR – Removal of rectum and anus.
8. Rectopexy for rectal prolapse

 All these are types of surgeries done for various indications –

1. Cancer of colon
2. Cancer of rectum
3. Colitis
4. Benign tumor of colon or rectum.
5. Colonic perforation
6. Diverticulitis
7. Rectal prolapse

What is Colorectal surgery recovery time?

Laparoscopic colorectal surgery  is gold standard in today’s time. Open colorectal surgery is thing of past these days. Just like laparoscopy is gold standard for gall bladder removal, laparoscopy is gold standard for colorectal surgery. since introduction of laparoscopy in colorectal surgery recovery time has decreased considerably and patients are usually discharged from hospital within 3-5 days as compared to 7-10 days after open surgery. Patient is able to eat and move around early as compared to open surgery.  Shorter hospital stay also decreases cost of colorectal surgery. 

Risks involved in colorectal surgery?

Various risks involved with colorectal surgery are

1. Bleeding after surgery – very rare
2. Leak from anastomosis ( joints of intestine)
3. Infection
4. Injury to ureter ( urine pipe)
5. Urinary bladder disturbance due to nerve injury ( especially after rectal surgery)