Colorectal Surgery and Procedures
The colon includes both the large intestine and the rectum—the end of the colon. Colorectal surgery refers to the entire colon, including the rectum.
As people age, it is common to have changes in your colon, including the growth of non-cancerous or cancerous polyps. The surgical team at Carilion Clinic is experienced in treating these and all of the various conditions that can affect the colon.
Common colorectal conditions
- Colon polyps (cancerous and non-cancerous growths in the large intestine)
- Celiac disease (trouble digesting gluten)
- Crohn’s disease (a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines)
- Diverticulosis (pouches that form in the wall of the colon)
- Hemorrhoids (swollen veins in the anal canal)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (a/k/a irritable bowel disease)
- Anal fissures (a tear in the lining of the anus)
- Colocancer
- Rectal cancer
Some colorectal conditions do not require surgery. Your Carilion Clinic physician may discuss ways to manage your condition such as adhering to strict dietary guidelines and/or making lifestyle changes (e.g. increased exercise and smoking cessation).
What are colon polyps?
Colon polyps are growths in your large intestine (colon) and range in size from smaller than a pea to golf ball size. Many people have small polyps and do not even know it because they have no symptoms. They are often discovered during a routine colon cancer screening test.
While most polyps are not cancer, they can turn into cancer over many years. As they grow larger, you may begin to experience symptoms that may be a warning sign of colon or colorectal cancer.
Symptoms of colon polyps
- Rectal bleeding
While bright red blood on toilet paper can be a symptom of colorectal cancer, it may also be a sign of other, less serious conditions such as hemorrhoids or small tears in your anus. Prolonged bleeding, however, is not normal and should be reported to your doctor. - Blood in your stool
Blood can show up as red streaks in your bowel movement, or it may make your bowel movement look black. This, too, can be caused by other factors including iron supplements, anti-diarrhea medications, and even eating beets. - Constipation or diarrhea
Doctors often look for a prolonged change in bowel habits (more than a week), which might indicated the presence of a large polyp. - Pain or obstruction
If you have a very large polyp, it may actually block (obstruct) your bowel, causing pain, nausea, cramping, constipation and/or vomiting.
Testing and treatment for colon polyps
While most polyps are not cancerous, your Carilion Clinic physician may recommend one or more of the following tests and treatments to check for colon polyps and to take a sample—or biopsy—of the polyp tissue:
- Barium enema
This involves taking an x-ray of the large intestine after liquid barium sulfate has been placed in the rectum. - Anoscopy
A short, rigid tube called an anoscope is inserted in the last 2 inches of the anal canal. No patient preparation is necessary. - Proctoscopy
A slightly longer tube is inserted into the inside of the rectum. The patient prepares by using laxatives or an enema to empty the colon. - Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
This test uses a longer, flexible tube that is inserted through the anus. The scope is over 2 feet long with a lighted lens on the end. It allows your physician to see around all of the ‘bends’ in the lower third of the colon and to remove small polyps and/or collect tissue samples. Preparation includes laxatives and/or enemas.
Colonoscopy
Like the sigmoidoscopy, a colonoscopy uses a small camera attached to a flexible tube, but a colonscope is long enough to examine the entire length of your colon.
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