Colon Surgery
-
- Tweet
Desert West Surgery
General & Minimally Invasive Surgeons & Surgical Oncologists located in Las Vegas, NV
When you face colon surgery, whether for inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, or other problems with your large intestine, you need to know your surgeon has exceptional skill. The team at Desert West Surgery has extensive training and experience performing successful colon surgeries using state-of-the-art technology. They’re also highly respected for giving each patient individualized care and attention. If you have questions about colon surgery, call one of the three offices in Las Vegas, Nevada, or book a consultation online.
Colon Surgery Q & A
What health conditions may require colon surgery?
Colon surgery is often the last treatment choice for problems that don’t respond to medication and other conservative treatments. However, there are some cases in which surgery is the first line of treatment to protect your health, whether you have colon cancer or an emergency, such as a blocked colon.
The team at Desert West Surgery may perform surgery for conditions such as:
- Colonic bleeding
- Diverticulitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Rectal prolapse
- Twisted colon
Removal of colon polyps to prevent cancer is another procedure that’s frequently performed.
What should I know about colon cancer?
Most colon cancers begin as benign polyps that grow on the wall of your colon. You can prevent colon cancer by having polyps removed before they turn cancerous or when they’re in an early precancerous stage.
To prevent colon cancer, all adults should undergo colon cancer screening when they reach the age of 45. Your doctor may recommend earlier screening if your risk for colon cancer is higher than normal due to a family history of cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or other factors.
The doctors at Desert West Surgery perform a colonoscopy to screen for colon cancer. During the procedure, the long, flexible colonoscope is guided through your colon. A camera in the scope gives your doctor a magnified view inside your colon. When polyps are identified, they’re removed and sent for a biopsy.
What is a colectomy?
Colectomy is surgery to remove diseased or damaged parts of your colon. Following a colectomy, your surgeon attaches the two ends to restore colon function or performs a colostomy, which allows waste to leave your colon through an abdominal opening.
Will I receive minimally invasive colon surgery?
Whenever possible, the doctors at Desert West Surgery perform minimally invasive colon surgery, either using manually operated instruments or the da Vinci® Surgical System for robotic surgery.
Minimally invasive surgery is done using narrow instruments inserted through a few small incisions. This type of procedure causes less trauma than the long incision required to perform open surgery.
When you undergo minimally invasive surgery, you gain health benefits such as:
- Less blood loss from surgery
- Lower risk of infection
- Less postoperative pain
- Faster healing
- Reduced muscle damage
- Minimal scarring
If you need a screening colonoscopy or you have a condition requiring colon surgery, call Desert West Surgery or book an appointment online.