When you need colon surgery, you want to preserve as much of your large intestine as possible. Expert surgeon Kevin Lynch, DO, of Odessa General Surgery is the most experienced robotic surgeon in the West Texas area and may be able to perform your colon surgery with the state-of-the-art da Vinci® system. If you need colon surgery, call the Odessa, Texas, office today or use the online form to schedule an appointment.
Colon Surgery
Why do I need colon surgery?
According to the American Cancer Society, colon cancer is the third most common cancer among women and men in the United States.
If you have colon cancer, recommended treatment may include surgery to remove the cancerous portion of your colon (also known as your large intestine), as well as chemotherapy and radiation.
However, colon cancer is only one of the reasons you might benefit from colon surgery. Other conditions that may require removal of all or a portion of your colon or correction of an abnormality include:
- Crohn’s disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Ulcerative colitis
- Ruptured or blocked colon
- Polyps
- Diverticulitis (infected bowel pockets)
- Abscesses (infected tissues)
- Fistulas
Surgery for IBD, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease is recommended when other treatment options, including medications and dietary adjustments, don’t alleviate symptoms.
What happens during colon surgery?
The goal of colon surgery is to remove abnormal growths, infected tissue, or cancer that may be present. If you have ruptures or blocks, those are removed or repaired.
Depending on the extent of your disease, Dr. Lynch may need to remove part of your colon and then attach the two ends to each other so that your digestive system continues to function normally.
In the case of cancer or extensive Crohn’s disease, Dr. Lynch may need to remove your entire colon.
How do I prepare for colon surgery?
Whether your colon surgery is booked as traditional open surgery, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, or robotic surgery, your colon must be clean and empty before your procedure.
You undergo a bowel prep that’s similar to that for a colonoscopy and you may need to fast, drink laxatives, and have an enema.
What are the advantages of robotic colon surgery?
Dr. Lynch uses the da Vinci robotic surgery system to perform colon surgery whenever possible. With da Vinci, he only needs to make small incisions in your abdominal area, through which he inserts a miniature camera and specialized, tiny, flexible surgical tools on long robotic arms.
The camera transmits magnified, 3D color images of the treatment area to a monitor on the operative console, which is right next to you.
Because da Vinci requires smaller incisions, you experience less bleeding and less trauma. Your recovery time is also reduced.
If you need colon surgery, contact the understanding and knowledgeable Odessa General Surgery team by phone or online form.