Treating Dallas-Fort Worth, TX with Colectomy Surgery
Dr. Sutker performs colorectal surgeries for patients throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX area. A colectomy is a procedure that removes part or all of your colon, which is also referred to as your large intestine. Your colon is located at the end of your digestive tract. It’s a long, tube-like organ. You’d need a colectomy in cases of colon cancer, diverticulitis, bowel obstruction or perforation, ulcerative colitis, and other medical conditions. A doctor can perform either an open colectomy or laparoscopic procedure. In an open colectomy, the doctor makes one long incision in the abdominal wall so they can see the colon directly. A laparoscopic colectomy only requires several much smaller incisions, and the doctor uses a thin, light tube and camera to guide the procedure. The doctor inserts surgical instruments through the other incisions. If the colon cannot be safely re-connected, a temporary or permanent colostomy will be performed. A colostomy usually requires additional procedures to reattach the digestive tract’s remaining portions so waste can exit the body via its natural route.
Small Bowel Obstructions
A small bowel obstruction occurs when the small intestine has a blockage that prevents its contents from flowing normally through the digestive tract. The number one cause of a bowel obstruction is scar tissue from previous abdominal surgery. Other causes include hernias and cancers. After surgery, the intestines often form adhesions or bands of scar tissue. When the bowel gets trapped in adhesions, it can result in small bowel obstruction. Severe cases might compromise the intestine’s blood supply, possibly killing the tissues—a life-threatening situation for a patient. 80% of bowel obstructions can be treated with conservative (non-surgical) means. Treatment for it includes inserting a nasogastric (NG) tube running through the nostril and down into the stomach to remove fluids. The desired result is the bloating decreases, and the patient has a bowel movement. If an NG tube doesn’t work, then a surgery called lysis of adhesions may have to be performed. In this surgery, the doctor cuts the scar tissue to free the trapped bowel. They’ll also remove any part of the bowel that appears dead or unhealthy, and the healthy bowel segments get sewn together.
Schedule Surgery Immediately for Your Welfare
Don’t wait to get a necessary surgery performed until the problem becomes critical. Dr. Sutker is ready to correct your intestinal conditions with colorectal procedures, including colectomy surgery and treatment for small bowel obstructions in our Dallas-Fort Worth, TX office. Call Dr. Sutker today to let him examine you and advise you on the best course of action.
