Colorectal Surgery
Procedures
Colorectal Cancer
Bowel resections
Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for colorectal cancer. The affected segment of bowel and surrounding lymph nodes are removed, and in most cases the remaining bowel can be re-joined. The da Vinci robot allows superior access to the deep pelvis in the treatment of rectal cancer, and increased precision when operating around important blood vessels and nerves. Patients having robotic resections have reduced pain and recovery times compared with other forms of bowel resection.
Trans Anal Minimally Invasive Surgery
The da Vinci robot can be used to operate through the anus to remove large benign or recurrent polyps in the rectum which are not suitable for removal at colonoscopy.
Other Colorectal Procedures
Benign Disease
Rectal prolapse
This is a condition in which the rectum protrudes from the anus often resulting in bleeding, leakage and incontinence. The da Vinci robot provides unparalleled access to the deep pelvis to repair the prolapsed rectum. Prolapse is a notoriously difficult problem to fix surgically and the da Vinci robot allows technically superior repairs to be performed.
Complicated diverticular disease
Patients experiencing recurrent episodes of diverticulitis or complicated episodes of diverticulitis may require removal of the affected bowel. This can be very difficult surgery as the result of chronic inflammation and infection, scarring or obstruction. The da Vinci robotic system offers superior optics and more precise dissection in such cases.
Complex inflammatory bowel disease
Treatment for severe inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease may include removal of part of the bowel. Robotic surgery offers more rapid recovery and return to normal function, as well as improved cosmetics in this younger group of patients.
Surgeons