Open and Laparoscopic Colon Surgery

While none of us want to face colon surgery, the fact is it is often necessary in the case of colon cancer, diverticular disease, small and large bowel obstruction, intestinal polyps, inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal bleeding. Your colon is part of your intestines, which are comprised of the small intestine, large intestine (colon) and rectum (end of colon).

When your stomach digests food, it empties into the small intestine where your body absorbs the nutrients of your food, i.e. proteins, vitamins and minerals. Everything that is not absorbed then travels into the colon and on to the rectum, which expels it from your body. When part of your colon becomes diseased, colon surgery is necessary.

Open Colon Surgery

At this point in time, open colon surgery is utilized more often than laparoscopic surgery. Due to the fact that the colon is situated so close to many of your vital organs, a skilled surgeon with much experience and expertise should always be chosen. Dr. Wilkenfeld is more than qualified to perform this extremely precise surgery and has done hundreds over the last 26 years.

The surgery will be done with general anesthesia. In order to operate on the colon, an incision is made in the abdomen. The surgeon then locates the portion of the colon that is diseased, sealing it on either side before removing it. Hopefully the ends can be reconnected, resuming normal bowel function, but sometimes a colostomy or “bag” is necessary. The surgery itself can last several hours, with a hospital recovery time of several days to a week.

Laparoscopic Colon Surgery

Gaining in popularity, laparoscopic colon surgery has quite a few advantages over traditional open colon surgery. Relatively new, this procedure affords a faster recovery time for the actual colon and the patient -- getting up and running, so to speak, much sooner. For this reason, the hospital stay is shorter and there is less downtime recovering. Within days you can resume normal activities. Plus, there’s a serious reduction in pain and scarring than with the open surgery.

First of all, there is no need to make a large cut in the wall of the abdomen. Four or five incisions of about one-half inch long to 2-3 inches long are made, through which Dr. Wilkenfeld inserts the laparoscope and possibly his hand. The video camera guides him as he works to remove the diseased portion of the colon with the surgical instruments inserted through the other incisions.

Recovery tine is shortened. And since it is minimally invasive, the stress on your body is greatly reduced as well. Plus, as is the case with all laparoscopic surgeries, there is less scarring.

Check with Dr. Wilkenfeld about which procedure would be best for your unique circumstances. Schedule a consultation today by calling 936-441-3133 or sending us an email.