The colon or large intestine is the final organ responsible for nutrient and fluid absorption before digestive material exits the body as waste. Large quantities of bacteria in the colon aid in digestion of certain materials but make injury to...
Surgeons perform A-P, or abdominoperineal resection, surgeries to remove the lower end of your colon, including your anus and rectum. The surgeon then reroutes the upper part of your colon through an opening in your lower belly, where she attaches...
Surgeons perform more than 600,000 colorectal procedures a year in the United States to treat conditions affecting the lower gastrointestinal tract, according to the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. Conditions that...
Diverticulitis occurs when small pouches called diverticula that bulge out from weak spots on the lining of the intestines become inflamed, causing pain, fever, nausea and changes in bowel patterns. Some patients with severe cases of...
Physicians use laser surgery to remove diseased tissue or treat blood vessels that are bleeding, as well as for cosmetic surgery procedures like tattoo, wrinkle and birthmark removal. Lasers, or beams of light, focus exactly on targeted cells,...
Surgical staples were originally created to respond to the perceived problem of security against the leakage of blood or bowel contents. Leaks from poor sewing, or suturing, of the bowel were significantly linked to post-surgical mortality....
A colectomy is surgery to remove a section of or the entire colon to help treat or prevent certain diseases that affect the colon. A laparoscopic colectomy is a minimally invasive procedure in which a tiny video camera and tools are passed through...
Diverticulitis is an inflammation of tiny pouches on the inner lining of the digestive tract known as diverticula. Diverticulitis may cause sudden, severe pain located in the lower left side of the abdomen as well as fever, nausea, constipation,...
A small bowel resection may be done for cancer or obstruction. Some forms of gastric bypass surgery resect the bowel. Resection of the bowel can be done laparoscopically or through a large incision in the abdomen. Complications of small bowel...
