Colorectal Surgery Program: Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment

Overview of the Colorectal Surgery Program

Colorectal surgery involves repairing damage caused by disorders of the colon, rectum, anus and small intestine. Colorectal disorders can cause you discomfort and pain, and waiting for an accurate diagnosis and treatment can be an anxious time. As a patient, you want to know that you can be seen in a discreet and reassuring setting and that your treatment will minimize any distress and inconvenience, as quickly as possible.

The Colorectal Surgery Program within Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Digestive Disease Institute specializes in the treatment of many colorectal disorders. We use the latest diagnostic tests and treatments to maximize success rates and deliver a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs.

Our surgeons are experts in minimally invasive procedures, which, if suitable, will reduce recovery time, minimize pain and reduce the amount of time you spend in hospital. We are one of the few centers in the region to provide state-of-the-art robotic colorectal surgery and transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), which can result in fewer complications and a quicker return to normal activities.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Saves Lives

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What We Treat

Our Colorectal Surgery team treat a range of colorectal disorders including:

Colorectal Cancer
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease)
Pelvic floor disorders, rectal prolapse, and fecal incontinence
Proctology (anorectal conditions)

We also treat a number of other disorders including diverticulitis, retrorectal tumors, ostomies, colorectal polyps, genetic syndromes, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosis

An accurate diagnosis of colorectal disorders is important to make sure the correct and most effective treatment is given. Depending on your individual symptoms and history, there are several options for diagnostic tests which can include:

Anorectal physiology testing: anorectal manometry, EMG, pudendal nerve terminal motor latency testing (PNTML)
Anoscopy
Colonoscopy
Contrast enema study
CT scan, CT enterography
Endoanal and endorectal ultrasound
Flexible and rigid sigmoidoscopy
Genetic testing
MRI, MRI enterography, MR defecography
PET scan

Treatment

Once an accurate diagnosis is made, your colorectal surgeon will recommend the best treatment course for you. This could be a surgical or non-invasive treatment, including the following:

Anal fistula repair (fistulotomy, fistula laser ablation - FiLaC, endorectal advancement flap, ligation of intersphincteric tract – LIFT)

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Colectomy
Colonoscopy with polypectomy, colonoscopy with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)
Destruction of anal warts
Genetic counseling
Hemorrhoid surgery
- Conventional hemorrhoidectomy
- Laser hemorrhoidoplasty
- Transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD)
Ileostomy and colostomy creation
Incision and drainage of perirectal abscess
Laparoscopic surgery
Lateral internal sphincterotomy, fissurectomy, laser fissurectomy
Pilonidal disease surgery (unroofing, laser pilonidal surgery, cleft lift)
Proctectomy (low anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection)
Rectopexy
Rectovaginal fistula repair
Robotic surgery
Rubber band ligation of internal hemorrhoids
Sacral neuromodulation
Small bowel resection
Total proctocolectomy with ileal J pouch reconstruction
Transanal excision, transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM)

Colorectal Surgery Caregivers

As well as seeing our colorectal surgeons, treatment within our Colorectal Surgery Program may involve a wide team of caregivers. This team approach aims to give you the best possible treatment outcome, from admission to treatment to recovery.

Clinic nurses
Physicians
Surgeons