Colon and rectal surgery is a procedure that involves the colon, rectum, and anus. Colon and rectal surgery can treat problems such as cancer in these areas of your body. It may also treat other issues, such as infections or diverticulitis.

What Is Colon and Rectal Surgery?

Colon surgery is a type of surgery that involves the removal of part or all of the large intestine (colon). It may also be referred to as colectomy, proctocolectomy, or resection. The surgery treats several conditions, including hemorrhoids, cancer, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other digestive disorders. Colon and rectal surgeons may also remove polyps or tumors from your colon or rectum. The colon is a long tube that takes waste from your small intestine and carries it out of your body. The rectum is located at the end of the large intestine and stores waste until it passes through your anus.

Colon cancer occurs when abnormal cells in your colon begin to multiply rapidly and form tumors, which can then spread to other parts of your body. In this case, partial colectomy is done. This allows stool to pass through generally while keeping any remaining healthy tissue away from cancerous areas and any remaining lymph nodes in place for better detection if more cancer develops later on down the road due to its proximity to those tissues.

What Is Colon and Rectal Surgery Used To Treat?

Colon and rectal surgery treat conditions that can cause abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, fecal incontinence, rectal bleeding, or colon cancer. The most common colorectal problems are diverticulosis and hemorrhoids. Diverticulosis occurs when small pouches form along your colon wall. The pockets often become inflamed and can become infected. They usually don’t cause symptoms unless they get infected or bleed in the lower part of your digestive system (the rectum).

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus that may cause discomfort during bowel movements or pressure on other organs such as the bladder or uterus (womb). Some people develop constipation after a stroke because they have coordination problems that make it hard for them to control their bowels properly during bowel movements. Other people develop constipation because they’re taking drugs such as antidepressants that slow down how fast food moves through your digestive system so you can retain more water in your body than usual. This causes hard stools that cannot easily pass from the body quickly without straining too much.

Types of Colon and Rectal Surgery

Here are some common surgeries that your doctor may recommend:

• Surgical removal of the colon – This procedure involves removing part or all of your large intestine. It’s usually done when you have cancer in this area.
• Surgical removal of the rectum removes part or all of your sigmoid colon (the lower end of your large intestine). It can be done if Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis causes severe inflammation.
• Repairing a hernia – Hernias occur when an organ pushes through its surrounding muscle wall; they most often affect people who’ve had abdominal surgery before.

What Happens During Colon and Rectal Surgery?

First, you will be placed under general anesthesia. The Colorectal surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen and removes any diseased sections of the colon or rectum. If necessary, the surgeon may remove a part of the colon blocked by hard stool (fecal impaction).

What Happens After Colon and Rectal Surgery?

After you are discharged, you will need to remain on a liquid diet for one or two days. You may be able to eat soft foods such as soup, mashed potatoes, and applesauce after that. Based on your doctor’s instructions, you will follow a special diet for several weeks after surgery. Your doctor may also prescribe stool softeners and other medications to help increase bowel movement frequency and ease pain during recovery.

You will probably have a stoma (an opening) in your abdomen so that waste can drain into an attached pouching system called an ostomy appliance or bag. This is necessary because it contains all matter evacuated from the rectum, including mucus and dead cells. You may feel uncomfortable with this arrangement at first but remember that it is temporary; within 6-8 weeks, most people adjust quite well while recovering from their procedure(s).

What Are the Risk of Colon and Rectal Surgery?

Infection: Colon and rectal surgery can disrupt the body’s normal microflora, causing an imbalance in bacteria that can lead to disease. This risk is higher if you have had abdominal surgery or had your spleen removed. If you have any illness that weakens your immune system before surgery, be sure to let your doctor know so they will do what they can to prevent complications from developing later on during recovery.

Bleeding: The lower end of your digestive tract contains many blood vessels; these vessels can bleed if damaged during colon or rectal surgery or other gastrointestinal procedures such as endoscopy (inserting an instrument into the body cavity). Bleeding is often controlled with medication but may require surgical treatment if it continues after the medicine fails.

In conclusion, Colon and rectal surgery is a safe, effective way to treat many problems with your digestive system. Colorectal surgeons can help you find treatment options that are right for you—and they want to ensure that you know the risks involved before undertaking any surgical procedure. It can help you feel better and live a more active life if you’re experiencing pain or other symptoms. You can talk to your doctor about whether this procedure might be correct for you.