Robotic Colon Surgery
Why get a colon resection?
Patients can undergo robotic colorectal surgery for many conditions, such as polyps, cancer, diverticulitis, colonic inertia, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, or obstructions and twisting of the colon.
Your physician may recommend a colon resection depending on the type of problem you are having and how severe it may be. Robotic colorectal resection is also a treatment option for Colon Cancer and Diverticular Disease.
Several different disease processes can affect the colon. Many of these may require surgery. Hearing you need colon surgery is difficult, and you find yourself overwhelmed with information. Like any surgical procedure, robotic assisted colon surgery comes with its own set of questions.
What is the colon?
This colon is a vital part of the gastrointestinal tract. Your colon works around the clock to remove waste products from the body and reabsorb water. The water is removed from the waste and reabsorbed into the body.
As part of the digestive system, the colon works in conjunction with the stomach and small intestine to keep the fluid and electrolyte balance. Although it is an impressive organ, it is possible to have a full life without the the colon.
What is a robotic-assisted colon resection?
Resection is a surgery that removes part of the colon. The basic steps of colorectal surgery are:
- Remove – first, the surgeon needs to cut and remove (resect) the diseased part of the colon.
- Take out – the piece of the unhealthy colon is taken out from your body through a small incision.
- Reconnect and Close – The two ends of the colon are reconnected.
What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting Americans. Robotic-assisted surgery for colon cancer allows ATX Robotic Surgery to safely remove the cancer and all lymph nodes using a minimally invasive approach. These high-tech tools allow for faster recovery and further treatment or therapies can be initiated much faster.
What is diverticular disease (diverticulitis)?
Diverticulitis is the inflammation or infection of diverticula (small pouches) that develop along the walls of the intestine. The causes of diverticulitis can be both diet and genetics. Diverticula develop in weak places in the colon, and give way under pressure causing the pouches to protrude through the wall of the colon.
If you have been diagnosed with diverticulitis by your physician, robot-assisted surgery is an option for you.
Is colon resection major surgery?
Yes, colon surgery is major surgery because it involves removing part of the large intestine from the body and putting the two pieces of the intestine back together.
Each year, more than 600,000 colon resections are performed in the United States to treat any of the various diseases of the colon. With the advancement in medicine and technology, you now have the option of robotic-assisted colorectal surgery. This type of surgery decreases the risk of infection and recovery time.
About DaVinci robotic-assisted colorectal surgery.
ATX Robotic Surgery utilizes the DaVinci robot system to make small incisions with minimal trauma to surrounding tissue. These tools give our surgeons better dexterity and vision though the use of small robot arms.
Our surgeons are able to control the robot, leading to a more precise and efficient surgery. Small incisions that could be 1cm in length take the place of large traditional incisions that are several inches long. This sort of surgery allows for less pain, the return of bowel function faster, and shorter stay in the hospital. Robotic colon surgery can decrease hospital stay to 2 days from the typical 5-7 days using conventional approaches.
The Firefly System – The DaVinci robotic system has a fantastic feature called the “firefly.” This is a dye that allows us to measure blood flow to tissues and organs. If there is something that shows poor blood flow our surgeons can make adjustments and help prevent a leak in the vein of colorectal surgery.
The decision to have surgery is a personal one. Take the time to contact ATX Robotic Surgery to learn more about the most advanced surgical procedures, Robotic-Assisted Surgery.