Colorectal surgery is carried out to correct blockages and disease in the bowel and rectum.
The colorectal unit is set in Circle Reading's clean and modern hospital environment. Our numerous consultants and wider allied health team, such as specialist nurses and dieticians, are able to offer the most comprehensive range of surgical options as well as expertise in post-operative care available.
Our unit also has close links with other departments, including rheumatology, oncology and therapies, to ensure we can provide the range of medical management you need.
Full control for you
Our expert approach to providing colorectal surgery ensures your problem will be clearly addressed at your assessment, enabling us to request the most suitable investigations. We strive to give our patients a unique understanding of their condition and management options as well as full control over their condition, with follow-up appointments scheduled to check on your progress following any treatment.
A colorectal unit is run by colorectal surgeons, specialist nurses and dieticians and deals solely with medical problems affecting the lower gastrointestinal tract.
Are you suffering from one of these common problems?
Medical problems managed by colorectal surgical units include inflammatory conditions known as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. These conditions require careful monitoring and medical treatment with powerful medicines. However, in some cases, even with this treatment surgery is needed to remove the inflamed areas of the lower gastrointestinal tract.
Some individuals may suffer with holes in the small intestine, known as fistula. Colorectal surgeons are needed to repair these holes as if left, dangerous infections are likely to develop. The causes of fistula include prior surgery complications and trauma, although rarely a fistula can develop with no cause identified.
Unfortunately, as with other areas of the body tumours can develop in the small intestine. Colorectal units support patients through the surgical removal of any malignant or benign mass, while further care may be managed through an oncology team.
A common, benign reason for individuals seeking an appointment with a colorectal surgeon is haemorrhoids. Surgeons are able to provide several less invasive methods of treating haemorrhoids such as devascularization techniques, as well as standard surgical removal.
Your initial consultation will be geared around gaining a full understanding of the history of your problem and then requesting appropriate diagnostic tests. Your consultant will firstly take a detailed history of your symptoms ,which may include several factors including the exact timeline of the condition and the nature of your symptoms, as well as the location and type of pain you may be experiencing.
Our experts will look to gain an understanding of any possible relationship of your symptoms to meals and to clarify any associated symptoms such as weight loss, bleeding and fatigue. You may also be asked detailed questions around your family medical history, as in some cases this can predispose to developing certain types of colorectal conditions.
Our surgeons will normally conduct an examination of the rectum and lower part of the colon using a device known as a rigid sigmoidoscopy. This is a small device that is inserted in to the colon and uses a light to allow a colorectal surgeon to examine the area.
Depending on your symptoms and the findings of a rigid sigmoidoscopy you may be required to undergo a flexible sigmoidoscopy, which enables visualisation further up the colon or a colonoscopy, which allows visualisation of the whole of the colon.
State-of-the-art diagnostics available for you
Diagnostic tests requested may include imaging such as CT or MRI scans as well as specialist blood tests used to detect levels of inflammation, genetic markers or certain tumour marker tests.
The right treatment for you, always
In the event of inflammatory bowel disease our consultants will take in to account the severity of your symptoms, imaging findings and any abnormal blood tests before discussing pharmacological management versus any surgical options.
There are many different types of surgery to treat inflammatory bowel disease, as well as to remove any tumours in the lower gastrointestinal tract. The type of surgery offered will depend on the extent and location of the underlying problem as well as your underlying medical status.
Surgical resection of the affected bowel is often performed in a two-stage operation, with a colostomy bag being used in the interim period to allow the small bowel to heal sufficiently.
For individuals suffering with haemorrhoids who have not responded to specialist creams and ointments, our surgeons are able to perform a surgical removal or offer procedures which are able to remove the blood supply to the haemorrhoids, such as injections or banding procedures.
Our unit draws on the experience of a number of the UK’s leading colorectal consultants, enabling us to offer the full spectrum of diagnostics, non-surgical management and surgery needed to treat all colorectal conditions.
Furthermore, Circle Hospitals are able to offer appointments at short notice and with flexible, convenient times with leading experts. Relevant diagnostic procedures such as a CT, MRI scan, sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy may be booked immediately following your initial or follow up consultation.
Peace of mind for you
We appreciate that undergoing necessary diagnostic interventions and treatment for colorectal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and tumours can be a stressful experience. Circle Health plans and carries out thousands of appointments and medical interventions each week.
Based on this experience, we have developed an excellence in both clinical and non-clinical care in order to relieve your worries and to allow streamlined patient journeys from appointments to diagnostics, treatments and any onward referrals to other specialties.
Colorectal surgery is a highly complex area and comprises surgical techniques which are complex and often require two or three stage procedures to be carried out. At Circle Health, we continue to invest in and utilise the very latest technology and surgical instrumentation to give the very best outcomes for our patients through these complex treatments.
Not only is our colorectal clinical care second to none, your treatment will be conducted in a modern, clean facility which you are able to feel comfortable in throughout your treatment.
