Colon & Rectal Surgery

When would I need colon and rectal surgery?

You may need surgery if your symptoms persist despite conservative care like medication or if you have a severe or life-threatening condition, such as cancer, bleeding, a bowel obstruction, or an infection.

Murrieta Valley Surgery Associates often provides surgical care for the following conditions:

• Diverticulitis
• Precancerous polyps
• Colon and rectal cancer
• Bowel obstructions
• Anal fissures (tears in the anus)
• Anal fistula (tunnel under the skin)
• Colonic volvulus (twisted colon)
• Rectal prolapse (the rectum falls out of its usual position)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)

You also need surgery for pilonidal disease, which is a chronic cyst or abscess between the buttocks.

What symptoms signal the need for colon and rectal surgery?

Colon and rectal conditions often cause generic symptoms, including:

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Rectal bleeding
• Blood in stools
• Excessive gas and bloating
• Change in bowel or bladder habits
• Unexplained weight loss

Don’t wait to see your primary care physician if these symptoms don’t improve or worsen.

What type of colon and rectal surgery might I need?

These are a few examples of surgeries frequently performed by the skilled colon and rectal surgeons at Murrieta Valley Surgery Associates:

• Polypectomy (to remove polyps)
• Colectomy (to remove part or all of the colon)
• Rectopexy (to repair a rectal prolapse)
• Sigmoidectomy (to remove the last section of your colon)
• Colostomy or ileostomy (to create a way for waste to leave your body)
• Hemicolectomy (to remove one side of your colon)
• Proctocolectomy (to remove your colon and rectum)

Your surgeon explains the technique and what to expect before you decide whether to proceed with surgery.

Will I have minimally invasive colon and rectal surgery?

The Murrieta Valley Surgery Associates perform minimally invasive procedures whenever possible. The general surgery team also specializes in robotic surgery, using advanced technology to improve minimally invasive surgery.

During a minimally invasive procedure, your surgeon may access your colon through a tiny abdominal incision and use a laparoscope to repair the problem.

The procedures cause minimal trauma compared with open surgery and have advantages such as:

• Lower risk of complications
• Less pain after surgery
• Faster return to normal bowel function
• Quicker recovery
• Minimal abdominal scarring

Call Murrieta Valley Surgery Associates today or request a surgery consultation using online booking.