Colon Surgery
The large intestine, or colon, is the lower part of the digestive tract. Colon surgery or resection is used to treat diseases of the colon, such as colon cancer, diverticular disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, polyps, or a blockage in the bowel. During colon surgery, the surgeon removes the diseased part of the bowel before reconnecting the healthy sections of the colon (a procedure called “end-to-end anastomosis”). Patients with severe colon disease may require a colostomy, a procedure in which the surgeon connects part of the colon to the abdominal wall, leaving an external opening called a stoma. Colon resections can be performed using an open surgery or laparoscopic technique. Open colon surgeries utilize a long abdominal incision that allows the surgeon access to the colon. Laparoscopic surgery uses 4 or 5 small abdominal incisions. A tiny tube with a camera on the end (laparoscope) and small surgical instruments are then used to perform the procedure.