The lower part of the digestive tract is made of the colon, the rectum, anal canal and the anus at the very end. A variety of conditions affect this area including tumors, infections, physical trauma and congenital diseases among others. Although some colorectal illnesses may be treated with drugs, the mainstay treatment for most of them is surgical. These are some of the concepts on colon and rectal surgery Long Island patients may find useful.
One of the common conditions in the colorectal region is called hemorrhoids. Sometimes, blood vessels in the rectum may get swollen without any reason at all. However, certain factors may predispose one to getting hemorrhoids. Prolonged straining on defecation is one these factors. This is usually as a result of low fiber diet. Pregnancy, obesity and anal sex are additional risk factors.
Hemorrhoids are primarily treated using conservative methods. One is encouraged to enrich their foods with high fibre content. In addition, individuals are advised to stay hydrated by drinking adequate amounts of water. Daily saline baths are great in enabling quick healing of hemorrhoids. Pain and inflammation can be management using analgesics or use of ice packs. However, if conservative treatment fails or if the hemorrhoids are too advanced, surgery is the main option.
Hemorrhoids can be removed without requiring general anesthesia. The patient can walk into hospital and walk out the same day. This can be done using rubber bands placed around the swelling. When this is done, blood supply to this area is compromised and the hemorrhoid eventually falls off. This method is usually referred to as rubber band ligation.
Alternatively, the doctor can use sclerotherapy where a chemical is infused into the swollen vessel to reduce it in size. Coagulation is another way to stop bleeding whereby techniques such as laser are used to cause shriveling of the swellings. Even though these minor procedures are cheaper and more convenient, the risk of recurrence is higher.
Hemorrhoidectomy, which simply means surgical removal of hemorrhoids, is the method of choice for very large swellings. The patient can be put on either regional or general anesthesia depending on how complicated the case is. The good thing about surgery is that it greatly lowers the rate of recurrence. However, the patient is at risk of getting urinary tract infections.
Colorectal surgery is also indicated for patients with cancer involving the colon and rectum in a procedure technically referred to as resection and anastomosis. In this process, the abnormal tissue is cut off and the normal parts put together again. When the sphincters that control defecation are also affected with cancer, they also have to be done away with. In this case, the patient has to be counselled on the fact that they will have to use a colostomy bag for the rest of their life.
The patient needs to be informed about the risks involved in colorectal surgery before the procedure is performed. If under general anaesthesia, the patient is at risk of aspiration, the heart and vessels may also collapse if not closely monitored and healthy structures may get injured in the process of operation. Regardless, the benefits are often more than the risks.
One of the common conditions in the colorectal region is called hemorrhoids. Sometimes, blood vessels in the rectum may get swollen without any reason at all. However, certain factors may predispose one to getting hemorrhoids. Prolonged straining on defecation is one these factors. This is usually as a result of low fiber diet. Pregnancy, obesity and anal sex are additional risk factors.
Hemorrhoids are primarily treated using conservative methods. One is encouraged to enrich their foods with high fibre content. In addition, individuals are advised to stay hydrated by drinking adequate amounts of water. Daily saline baths are great in enabling quick healing of hemorrhoids. Pain and inflammation can be management using analgesics or use of ice packs. However, if conservative treatment fails or if the hemorrhoids are too advanced, surgery is the main option.
Hemorrhoids can be removed without requiring general anesthesia. The patient can walk into hospital and walk out the same day. This can be done using rubber bands placed around the swelling. When this is done, blood supply to this area is compromised and the hemorrhoid eventually falls off. This method is usually referred to as rubber band ligation.
Alternatively, the doctor can use sclerotherapy where a chemical is infused into the swollen vessel to reduce it in size. Coagulation is another way to stop bleeding whereby techniques such as laser are used to cause shriveling of the swellings. Even though these minor procedures are cheaper and more convenient, the risk of recurrence is higher.
Hemorrhoidectomy, which simply means surgical removal of hemorrhoids, is the method of choice for very large swellings. The patient can be put on either regional or general anesthesia depending on how complicated the case is. The good thing about surgery is that it greatly lowers the rate of recurrence. However, the patient is at risk of getting urinary tract infections.
Colorectal surgery is also indicated for patients with cancer involving the colon and rectum in a procedure technically referred to as resection and anastomosis. In this process, the abnormal tissue is cut off and the normal parts put together again. When the sphincters that control defecation are also affected with cancer, they also have to be done away with. In this case, the patient has to be counselled on the fact that they will have to use a colostomy bag for the rest of their life.
The patient needs to be informed about the risks involved in colorectal surgery before the procedure is performed. If under general anaesthesia, the patient is at risk of aspiration, the heart and vessels may also collapse if not closely monitored and healthy structures may get injured in the process of operation. Regardless, the benefits are often more than the risks.
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