Patients who are about to undergo colorectal surgery are required to consult a surgeon prior to the procedure. It usually becomes necessary when other non-surgical treatment options, such as medications, failed to yield desired results. Colorectal surgery refers to a group of surgical procedures that are used to treat a wide variety of conditions that affect the colon, rectum and anus. The procedures are performed by colorectal surgeons, and may involve different techniques depending on the patient’s condition and its severity.
The consultation is for patients who are suffering from conditions that are listed below and who consider surgical procedure as one of their treatment options:
- Cancer (colon, rectal or anal)
- Pre-cancerous lesions (polyps or benign tumors)
- Diverticulosis or diverticulitis
- Hemorrhoids
- Anal fissure
- Anorectal abscess and fistula
- Anal warts
- Pilonidal disease
- Fecal incontinence
Colorectal surgical procedures can be performed using either traditional open surgery or modern minimally invasive surgical techniques. All these different types of techniques will be explained in detail during the initial consultation with the surgeon. At the end of the consultation, the patient should have all the information he or she needs to decide whether to undergo surgery and, if so, what kind of surgery he or she prefers. The surgeon will provide expert recommendations, but the patient will still be responsible for making the final decision, making the initial consultation with the surgeon extremely important.
