T. Bartley Pickron, M.D., Colorectal Surgeon
A diagnosis of colon disease can be unsettling, particularly when you need surgery to stop the spread of disease and/or alleviate symptoms. When medication or other treatments are not enough, a surgical procedure called colon resection may be used to treat Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticular disease, noncancerous colon polyps or colon cancer. In colon resection surgery, the diseased part of the colon is removed and the colon is reconnected.
Open vs. LaparoscopicOpen surgery typically involves a long incision that opens the abdomen and exposes the internal organs. Although the recovery time can be lengthy, open surgery may be the best option for some patients. The average hospital stay is a week or more, with six total weeks of recovery.
“For those who are candidates for laparoscopic surgery, this minimally invasive approach can help promote a quicker recovery with potentially fewer complications,” states T. Bartley Pickron, M.D., colorectal surgeon on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. A laparoscopic colon resection allows surgeons to operate through three to five small openings, using a laparoscope (a tiny telescope connected to a video camera) to view the internal organs during surgery. For some patients, a new technique called single incision laparoscopy allows the entire procedure to be performed through a 1½ to 2-inch incision through the belly button. Dr. Pickron continues, “The average hospital stay after laparoscopic colon surgery is three days. A patient may be back to his or her normal activities in an average time of one to two weeks.”
Dr. Pickron highlights the potential benefits of laparoscopic colon resection:- Less postoperative pain and smaller scars
- Shorter hospital stays
- Potentially quicker return to
a solid-food diet - Potentially faster return of bowel function
- Return to normal activities more quickly
Laparoscopic surgery is possible for almost all patients. Open surgery may be required for patients who have large tumors or have had multiple prior abdominal surgeries causing scar tissue. In some cases, the surgeon may convert from a laparoscopic procedure to open surgery before or during the actual operation, particularly if the organs are difficult to see or complications arise.
Surgery Preparations
Before colon resection surgery, your surgeon will provide specific instructions for you to follow. “You may need to follow a restricted diet (clear liquids), as well as use laxatives and enemas to cleanse the colon,” Dr. Pickron explains. Just prior to surgery, a colonoscopy and/or CT scan of the abdomen may be done so the surgeon can look inside the colon.
If you are a candidate for laparoscopic colon surgery, your primary care physician and your surgeon will help you understand all of the potential benefits and risks. For a referral to Dr. Pickron or a colorectal surgeon in your area, please call 281-274-7500.
