Colon And Rectal Surgery

What is Done at the Time of Surgery?

Most colon and rectum surgery entails removing a portion of the colon or rectum. In the majority of cases, the 2 cut ends are then joined back together to restore continuity to the intestines. This restores normal bowel function.

The segment of colon or rectum to be removed is determined by the location of the disease. The blood vessels that supply this segment are first cut off. If the surgery is for cancer, particular attention would be paid to remove the lymph nodes that run along these vessels.

Removal of part of the colon is referred to as a colectomy. Numerous names of surgery are used to describe the portion of the colon that is removed, such as right hemicolectomy (removing right half of the colon), left hemicolectomy (removing left half of colon), total colectomy (removing the entire colon) and sigmoid colectomy (removing the sigmoid colon). For surgery involving the rectum, the term proctectomy or anterior resection is used.

Is a Stoma Always Necessary?

NO. Most operations do not require a stoma.

When is a Stoma Necessary?

In cases of cancer of the rectum or anus where the anus sphincter muscles are involved, removing the cancer would require the anal muscles to be sacrificed. Under such circumstance, there would not be any muscles left to prevent the stools from leaking out. In these patients, a permanent stoma would be necessary. This is required in less than 5% of colorectal surgery.

In some cases of rectal surgery, when the anastomosis (joint between the 2 ends of the colon/rectum) is very near the anus, it is well established that the blood supply there is poor and there is a higher risk of the joint not healing and giving way. By having a stoma, this diverts the faeces out through the abdomen and prevents it from coming through the joint. This allows the anastomosis time to heal properly without risk of leakage of faecal content. These stomas are temporary and are usually closed 1-2 months later when the anastomosis has confirmed to be healed.

How is Colon and Rectum Surgery Performed?

There have been many improvements in the surgical instruments and techniques over the last 15 years.

The standard conventional surgery has always been through a long vertical cut through the abdomen in order to access the organs within. As this cut is relatively long, the post-operative pain can be quite substantial and recovery could be slow.

With improved techniques, some surgeons went on to make a horizontal cut in the lower part of the abdomen to remove the specific colon and rectum. This results in less pain than a long vertical cut.

With the advancement of technology, minimally invasive colon and rectum surgery is now becoming more and more common.

Minimally Invasive Colon and Rectum Surgery

Standard Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery

The colon and rectum are approached using thin and long instruments instead of making a long open cut.

A 1cm cut is made at the umbilicus and the camera is inserted. Three or four other cuts of 5-10mm is made around the abdomen. This allows instruments to be inserted inside and manipulate the intestines to perform the surgery. One of these cuts is then enlarged to allow the resected colon to be removed from the body.

Single Incision Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery

With better instruments, we have now moved on to single incision laparoscopic port surgery. This means that instead of having 3-5 small incisions around the abdomen, all the instruments are inserted through a special device that is usually located at the umbilicus. The colon is also removed through the same cut.

Robotic Colorectal Surgery

The latest advancement in technology is robotic surgery. Robotic surgery is also a form of minimally invasive surgery. Likewise, it utilises a few small holes that are made in the abdominal wall. However, unlike standard laparoscopic surgery where a few straight instruments are inserted, fine robotic arms are inserted through these small holes to do the surgery.

Robotic surgery gives the surgeon a 3-dimensional view and higher magnification. This allows easier identification of the nerves and reduces the risk of damage. The flexibility of the instruments is also much better compared to the standard laparoscopic instruments.

The difference between robotic and standard laparoscopic instrument is almost like using your hands compared to using a pair of chopsticks. It also allows for easier surgery deep in the pelvis within the confines of the pelvic bones. In certain cases, this improvement might make the difference between preserving the anus and having a permanent stoma.

Advantages of Minimally Invasive Surgery

With a smaller incision, there is usually less pain and allows the patient to be up and about more quickly. This may or may not result in a shorter hospital stay as that depends on the individual patient. However, with minimally invasive surgery, the patient usually has a faster return to normal daily activities after discharge.