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Symptoms of colon disease include a change in bowel habit, bleeding, abdominal pain, or unexplained weight loss. Do not assume all bleeding is from "hemorrhoids." Contact your doctor or call my office for any concerns or questions regarding your condition.
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The colon is divided into five main parts: right, transverse, left, sigmoid, and rectum. Each can manifest disease.
Diagnosis of colon disease vary. Colonoscopy is an excellent way to diagnose and treat colon disease. Barium enema is an another test that looks at the colon.
Diverticulosis is a condition of the colon where "outpouchings" occur along the length. It can occur anyplace on the colon. An condition called diverticulitis occurs when one of these outpouchings become inflammed. The outpouching may perforate and spill stool into the abdomen. This is an emergency condition requiring usually surgery.
Cancer is diagnosed with colonoscopy. Once tissue diagnosis is obtained an attempt to remove the affected part of colon is performed. This is usually done using an abdominal incision. Recovery usually lasts one week. Diverticular disease may be treated laparoscopically as well. Recovery for this procedure is a few days shorter.
Other colon disease include inflammatory bowel diseases (such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease) and irritable bowel syndrome. Consult your doctor for any other specific questions.
I have been able to take out the colon through a small incision of about 4 inches. I use the laparoscope and one hand in this technique. Recovery is faster (about 4 days) than the traditional colon operation. Pain is less and one can be at full activity in about three weeks on the average. The average length of stay for this procedure (called the Hand Assisted Laparoscopic Colectomy, or HAL colectomy) is 3 days.
Please consult your doctor or call my office if you wish to inquire more about the HAL technique.
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