COLORECTAL SURGERY

This involves the removal of part of the colon (partial resections, right hemicolectomy, left hemicolectomy, rectal resections, anorectal amputations). The most common indications for these procedures are malignant tumors at stages where surgery can ensure a radical treatment, sometimes combined with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy before and/or after the operation. For anorectal tumors, there is also the possibility of creating external fecal diversions (enterostomies), which may be temporary (closed in a second, less complex surgery) or permanent. Over the years, there has been a reduction in the number of “diversions” performed, thanks in part to technology and prevention, which allows for early diagnosis (degenerative polyps). However, in some cases, they are unavoidable to ensure oncologic recovery or to protect the patient from dangerous postoperative complications.

Patients may also undergo this type of surgery for benign conditions, such as colon diverticulosis (most often in the left colon) and its more serious complications (acute diverticulitis, perforation and peritonitis, intestinal narrowing with bowel movement issues). Certain chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis) may also require surgical treatment in cases of complications or failure of medical therapy.

Conditions like ulcerative colitis, which can affect the entire colon, may sometimes necessitate the removal of the entire colon (total colectomy).