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Colon

diseases and treatments

Treatments and solutions designed to bring you relief.

Colon and Associated Diseases

Colon and Associated Diseases

The colon is the last part of the digestive system. It extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body.  The colon consists of four sections: the ascending colon (including the cecum and appendix), the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the sigmoid colon.  There are countless conditions that affect the colon including obstructive disorders, infectious diseases, and neoplasms (cancers).

Learn more about these common ailments:

Colitis

Colitis refers to an inflammation of the colon. There are several causes of colitis including ischemic, infectious, and autoimmune. Colitis can be associated with diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, and blood in the stool. This inflammation may be due to a variety of reasons, including the following:

Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to look at the inner lining of your large intestine (rectum and colon). A thin, flexible tube called a colonoscope is used to look at the colon. A colonoscopy helps find ulcers, colon polyps, tumors, and areas of inflammation or bleeding.

CT Scan

CT

Quick and efficient imaging

A computerized tomography (CT) scan combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images of the inside of your body. CT scan images provide more detailed information than plain X-rays do.

Barium Enema

A barium enema is an X-ray exam that can detect changes or abnormalities in the large intestine (colon). The procedure is also called a colon X-ray.

Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy

Minimally invasive imagery

Laparoscopy is a surgical diagnostic procedure used to examine the organs inside the abdomen. It is a low-risk, minimally invasive procedure where only small incisions are made. This procedure allows our doctors to see inside your body in real time, without open surgery.

Laparoscopic Colectomy

A technique known as minimally invasive laparoscopic colon surgery allows surgeons to perform many common colon procedures through small incisions. Depending on the type of procedure, patients may leave the hospital and return to normal activities more quickly than patients recovering from open surgery.

Laparoscopic Colostomy

If it is not possible for segments of the colon to be reconnected (in some cases of obstruction, infection, and cancer), a colostomy procedure is performed to create an artificial opening (called a stoma) in the lower abdomen to allow the body to eliminate waste. During this procedure, a segment of the colon is attached to the skin of the abdomen. An odor-free pouchsystem (colostomy bag) is worn around the stoma to collect waste.

Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to look at the inner lining of your large intestine (rectum and colon). A thin, flexible tube called a colonoscope is used to look at the colon. A colonoscopy helps find ulcers, colon polyps, tumors, and areas of inflammation or bleeding.

Polypectomy

Colonic polypectomy is the removal of colorectal polyps in order to prevent them from turning cancerous. Gastrointestinal polyps can be removed endoscopically through colonoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy, or surgically if the polyp is too large to be removed endoscopically.

Laparoscopic Appendectomy

This minimally invasive surgical technique involves making several tiny incisions in the abdomen and inserting a miniature camera and surgical instruments. The appendix is then removed with the instruments, so there is usually no need to make a large incision in the abdomen.

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Northwest Institute for Digestive Surgery - The Digestive Health Experts.