The colon and rectum are located at the tail end of the alimentary canal just before the anal opening. Disease in this region can be as a result of an infection, direct physical injury, malignancy and birth anomalies among others. Treatment for most of these conditions is surgical although a few can be managed conservatively. Subsequent sections in this article will discuss some facts on colon and rectal surgery Long Island patients may find beneficial.
One of the common conditions in the colorectal region is called hemorrhoids. Sometimes, blood vessels in the rectum may get swollen without any reason at all. However, certain factors may predispose one to getting hemorrhoids. Prolonged straining on defecation is one these factors. This is usually as a result of low fiber diet. Pregnancy, obesity and anal sex are additional risk factors.
The primary treatment for hemorrhoids is medical since most of them present early when symptoms are still mild. The doctor will prescribe stool softeners to facilitate easy stool passage. Soaking the anal area in warm salty water for a certain period of time also helps a great deal in restoring normal function. It goes without saying that drinking adequate amounts of water and high fiber diet will help in alleviating constipation. When these measures fail, surgery has to be considered.
Hemorrhoids can be removed without requiring general anesthesia. The patient can walk into hospital and walk out the same day. This can be done using rubber bands placed around the swelling. When this is done, blood supply to this area is compromised and the hemorrhoid eventually falls off. This method is usually referred to as rubber band ligation.
Alternatively, the doctor can use sclerotherapy where a chemical is infused into the swollen vessel to reduce it in size. Coagulation is another way to stop bleeding whereby techniques such as laser are used to cause shriveling of the swellings. Even though these minor procedures are cheaper and more convenient, the risk of recurrence is higher.
Hemorrhoidectomy, which simply means surgical removal of hemorrhoids, is the method of choice for very large swellings. The patient can be put on either regional or general anesthesia depending on how complicated the case is. The good thing about surgery is that it greatly lowers the rate of recurrence. However, the patient is at risk of getting urinary tract infections.
Presence of a tumor in the colorectal region definitely calls for surgery. Colorectal cancer usually affects the elderly but this is not to say that it cannot affect the young population. Predisposing factors include family history of the same, personal history of polyps, smoking and obesity. Surgery is only indicated if disease that has not spread to other organs. It aims at removing the diseased section and uniting the normal ends to function again. A permanent colostomy may have to be created in cases where cancer affects the anal sphincters.
The patient needs to be informed about the risks involved in colorectal surgery before the procedure is performed. If under general anaesthesia, the patient is at risk of aspiration, the heart and vessels may also collapse if not closely monitored and healthy structures may get injured in the process of operation. Regardless, the benefits are often more than the risks.
One of the common conditions in the colorectal region is called hemorrhoids. Sometimes, blood vessels in the rectum may get swollen without any reason at all. However, certain factors may predispose one to getting hemorrhoids. Prolonged straining on defecation is one these factors. This is usually as a result of low fiber diet. Pregnancy, obesity and anal sex are additional risk factors.
The primary treatment for hemorrhoids is medical since most of them present early when symptoms are still mild. The doctor will prescribe stool softeners to facilitate easy stool passage. Soaking the anal area in warm salty water for a certain period of time also helps a great deal in restoring normal function. It goes without saying that drinking adequate amounts of water and high fiber diet will help in alleviating constipation. When these measures fail, surgery has to be considered.
Hemorrhoids can be removed without requiring general anesthesia. The patient can walk into hospital and walk out the same day. This can be done using rubber bands placed around the swelling. When this is done, blood supply to this area is compromised and the hemorrhoid eventually falls off. This method is usually referred to as rubber band ligation.
Alternatively, the doctor can use sclerotherapy where a chemical is infused into the swollen vessel to reduce it in size. Coagulation is another way to stop bleeding whereby techniques such as laser are used to cause shriveling of the swellings. Even though these minor procedures are cheaper and more convenient, the risk of recurrence is higher.
Hemorrhoidectomy, which simply means surgical removal of hemorrhoids, is the method of choice for very large swellings. The patient can be put on either regional or general anesthesia depending on how complicated the case is. The good thing about surgery is that it greatly lowers the rate of recurrence. However, the patient is at risk of getting urinary tract infections.
Presence of a tumor in the colorectal region definitely calls for surgery. Colorectal cancer usually affects the elderly but this is not to say that it cannot affect the young population. Predisposing factors include family history of the same, personal history of polyps, smoking and obesity. Surgery is only indicated if disease that has not spread to other organs. It aims at removing the diseased section and uniting the normal ends to function again. A permanent colostomy may have to be created in cases where cancer affects the anal sphincters.
The patient needs to be informed about the risks involved in colorectal surgery before the procedure is performed. If under general anaesthesia, the patient is at risk of aspiration, the heart and vessels may also collapse if not closely monitored and healthy structures may get injured in the process of operation. Regardless, the benefits are often more than the risks.
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