What Can You Expect Before The Surgery?

Once you come for your consultation and preoperative assessment, your surgeon will go over your medical history, go over your findings, and what best surgical approach will provide the best solution for you. You will be given a number of instructions to follow before the surgery.

What Can You Expect on The Day of Your Surgery?

Just as our surgeon explained to you during your consultation, there can be two ways your surgery may be conducted: open surgical technique and laparoscopic or robotic surgery.

Open Surgical Technique

If you require traditional open surgery, the surgeon will conduct the surgery by making a large incision on your abdomen, through which they may either take out any abnormal growth or a diseased part of the colon or rectum. Open surgery is done if minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic surgeries are not an option.

Laparoscopic Or Robotic Surgery

However, laparoscopic and robotic surgeries have largely replaced open surgeries over the previous years, and they are often the preferred surgical method by both doctors and patients. Laparoscopic surgery of the colon and rectum is a less invasive procedure involving a tiny incision through which special tools can be passed onto the surgical site. These tools mainly include the telescope-like camera known as the laparoscope and surgical instruments through which the surgical procedure is performed. The laparoscope allows the doctor to visualize the inside of the colon and rectum while they perform the surgery through special surgical instruments. 

What Can You Expect After The Surgery?

The results of colon and rectal surgery can be life-changing, improving symptoms such as pain, bleeding, and constipation. Once the surgery has been successfully completed, you will then be transferred to a recovery room, which may also be referred to as the post-anesthesia care unit. During this time, you will be under the observation of a healthcare professional. This can last for one to two hours, and once they confirm that you are stable, you will be taken to your room where you will recover for several days to get your pain controlled and your bowel functioning properly again. You will be provided instructions on wound care and home recovery after the successful completion of the surgery.