Colon Resection
Each year more than 600,000 surgical procedures for colon diseases are performed in the United States. Today, many colon surgeries can be done using a minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approach. The vast majority of surgeries performed on the colon are for cancer, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease and colitis.
Northwest Hospital's Dr. Geis was one of the first surgeons to perform a colon resection using a minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical approach in the United States in 1990.
In most laparoscopic colon resections, surgeons repair and/or remove portions of a patient's colon through small openings in the abdomen while watching an enlarged image of the patient's internal organs on a television monitor. Depending on the length and complexity of the procedure, patients most often leave the hospital in a few days and return to normal activities more quickly than patients recovering from open surgery.
Ileostomy/Colostomy and Closure of Ileostomy/Colostomy
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is also being used for fecal diversion with the creation of an ileostomy, an opening between the surface of the skin and the small intestine, and a colostomy, an opening between the surface of the skin and the colon. Fecal diversions are often used to treat complex rectal or anal problems and poor control of bowels (incontinence). If a patient has had an ileostomy or colostomy that now must be closed, MIS may be used to easily reverse and close the ileostomy or colostomy with a very short hospitalization.
Other Procedures
Other common gastrointestinal procedures performed using a minimally invasive surgical technique are small bowel resection, appendectomy/cecectomy and various procedures on the stomach, among many others.
Physicians
Alan S. Davis, M.D.
Chief of Surgery - Northwest Hospital
21 Crossroads Drive, Suite 360
Owings Mills, MD 21117
410-356-0410
W. Peter Geis, M.D.
21 Crossroads Drive, Suite 360
Owings Mills, MD 21117
410-356-3346