Colonoscopy/Colon Resection
For The Colonoscopy Procedure To Be Accurate, Your Colon Must Be Well Prepared. It Must Be Clear Of Stool And Fluids That Obscure The View Of The Colon And Rectal Lining. Also, The Colon Contains Bacteria And Waste Products That Can Cause Infection If They Leak Into The Abdomen During Colon Surgery. To Prepare Your Colon, You Will Be Asked To Do The Following At Least 24 To 48 Hours Before The Exam:
- Stop taking iron pills or medications containing iron, as iron can alter the color of your colon lining.
- Take laxatives and sometimes enemas that you are prescribed on the day prior to either procedure
- Avoid eating solid foods and opaque liquids at least 48 hours prior to either procedure. Only a soft or semiliquid diet (foods that are quickly and easily digested) should be consumed starting 48 hours prior to either procedure.
- Starting 24 hours prior to either procedure, drink only clear, nonalcoholic liquids such as black coffee, tea, water, or clear broth and juices. Eat only soft foods such as Jell-O — but not red Jell-O.
- Avoid liquids that are red in color, as they can look red in the colon and be confused with blood.
- Take a five-minute walk every 10 minutes during the time you’re drinking the laxative, but stay near a toilet, as you may have frequent and urgent need to use the toilet.
- Drink plenty of liquids during the bowel preparation to avoid dehydration.
- Take nothing by mouth at midnight the night before either procedure.
If you unable to comply with this regimen, or if your bowel preparation is not working (you should have clear watery stool), it is necessary to inform the surgeon right away. If your bowel prep is not adequate, it may be unsafe to perform your colonoscopy or colon resection, and it may have to be postponed.
Colonoscopy
Colon Resection
Common conditions that may affect your colon include: diverticulitis, colon cancer, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which includes ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. If you have one of these conditions, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove all or part of your colon. This surgery is called a colectomy.
A colectomy may be done with open surgery through one large incision (cut). It can also be done with minimally invasive surgery through a few small incisions using Da Vinci Robotic Surgery.
If you or your family doctor notice any abnormalities, you may request a consultation with us today.
Robotic Colectomy
Common conditions that may affect your colon include: diverticulitis, colon cancer, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which includes ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. If you have one of these conditions, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove all or part of your colon. This surgery is called a colectomy.
A colectomy may be done with open surgery through one large incision (cut). It can also be done with minimally invasive surgery through a few small incisions using Da Vinci Robotic Surgery.
If you or your family doctor notice any abnormalities, you may request a consultation with us today.
There’s more than hope when you know the facts
Your large intestine, which includes the colon, rectum and anal canal, plays a vital role in keeping you healthy by absorbing water and minerals and eliminating food waste. Because of the role it plays in digestion, conditions that affect the large intestine can be life-threatening. Even less dangerous colon conditions can reduce your quality of life and harm your overall health.
Common conditions of the colon that bring people in for medical care include cancer. Colon cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S. each year, with more than 100,000 new cases expected in 2019.1 Other potentially serious conditions affecting the colon include inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis (small pouches that become inflamed or infected), and bowel blockages.
Surgeons using da Vinci technology may be able to remove part or all of your colon through a few small incisions (cuts). During surgery, your surgeon sits at a console next to you and operates using tiny, wristed instruments. The da Vinci system translates every hand movement your surgeon makes in real time to bend and rotate the instruments with precision.
A camera provides a high-definition, 3D magnified view inside your body. Your surgeon may use Firefly fluorescence imaging, which offers visualization beyond the human eye by activating injected dye to light up and clearly show the blood flow to the colon. This may help your surgeon during the procedure.
It’s important to remember that Intuitive does not provide medical advice. After discussing all options with your doctor, only you and your doctor can determine whether surgery with da Vinci is appropriate for your situation. You should always ask your surgeon about his or her training, experience, and patient outcomes.
There are several options for managing some noncancerous colon conditions, including medications and changes to your diet and lifestyle. 2-4 If these options fail to relieve symptoms, your doctor may suggest surgery.
If you have been diagnosed with colon cancer your doctor may recommend chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery to remove the affected colon and nearby lymph nodes, or a combination of these options depending on the type of cancer and how far it has advanced.
Surgeons can remove the diseased section of the colon, along with nearby lymph nodes, with a procedure called a colectomy. After the surgeon has removed the diseased section of your colon, he or she may then reattach the two healthy parts of the intestine, performing what is known as an anastomosis. This part of the operation can either be done completely inside the body (known as an intracorporeal anastomosis) or outside of the body (known as an extracorporeal anastomosis).
The surgeon can perform a colectomy through open surgery or a minimally invasive approach. Traditional open surgery requires the surgeon to make an incision in your abdomen large enough to see the colon and perform the procedure using hand-held tools.
There are two minimally invasive approaches for colectomy: laparoscopic or robotic-assisted surgery, possibly with da Vinci technology. Both minimally invasive surgical options require a few small incisions that doctors use to insert surgical equipment and a camera for viewing. In laparoscopic surgery, doctors use special long-handled tools to perform surgery while viewing magnified images from the laparoscope (camera) on a video screen.
A review of published studies suggest that potential benefits of a colectomy with da Vinci technology include:
- Patients may experience fewer complications compared to patients who had open and laparoscopic surgery.
- Patients may stay in the hospital for a shorter amount of time than patients who had open or laparoscopic surgery.
- Surgeons may be less likely to switch to an open procedure when performing surgery with da Vinci, compared to a laparoscopic surgery.
All surgery involves risk. You can read more about associated risks of colectomy