Colorectal Conditions
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Treatment Options
Because ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are chronic illnesses, they often require long-term treatment with medications. There are two main goals of medication for IBD: bring active disease under control (into remission), and keep the disease in remission. Fortunately, there are medications available to treat mild to moderate IBD. You should discuss medications, as well as all other treatment options with your doctor. If initial treatments do not work, your doctor may recommend surgery for IBD or its complications.
Surgery. Your doctor may recommend colon surgery (called a colectomy or colon resection), if medication does not ease your symptoms or if there are complications, such as intestinal blockage. During surgery, doctors remove the affected part of the colon and then join together the remaining healthy portions of the colon (the reconnection is called an anastomosis). Surgery on your right colon (ascending) is called a right colectomy; surgery on your left colon (descending) is a left colectomy; and surgery on the sigmoid colon (lower left colon just before the rectum) is called a sigmoid colectomy.
Surgery is viewed an effective way to treat ulcerative colitis but surgery for Crohn’s disease is not considered a permanent solution because the condition usually returns after surgery.13
A colectomy can be performed using traditional open surgery but it is highly invasive since it requires a long incision that often leads to a lengthy hospital stay and recovery.
Laparoscopic surgery is less invasive but has certain limitations due to the long-handled, rigid instruments used during the operation. There is another surgical option that is minimally invasive and overcomes the limits of open and laparoscopic surgery.
da Vinci Surgery for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
If you have been told you need surgery for IBD, ask your doctor if you are a candidate for minimally invasive da Vinci® Surgery. Using the most advanced technology available, the da Vinci Surgical System allows your doctor to operate through a few tiny incisions with breakthrough vision, precision, control, and improved access to the affected area. da Vinci Surgery offers IBD patients such potential benefits as:
- Low blood loss7
- Quick return of bowel function8
- Quick return to diet8
- Short hospital stay8
The da Vinci System is a state-of-the-art surgical platform with 3D, high-definition vision and patented surgical instruments that takes surgery beyond the limits of the human hand. By overcoming the challenges of traditional open and laparoscopic surgery, da Vinci is changing the experience of surgery for people around the world.
As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed since surgery is specific to each patient, condition and procedure. It is important to talk to your doctor about all treatment options, including the risks and benefits. This information can help you make the best decision for your situation.
While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci Surgical System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. There are no guarantees of outcome. All surgeries involve the risk of major complications. Before you decide on surgery, discuss treatment options with your doctor. Understanding the risks of each treatment can help you make the best decision for your individual situation. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual; it may not be applicable to your condition. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits. Only your doctor can determine whether da Vinci Surgery is appropriate for your situation. The clinical information and opinions, including any inaccuracies expressed in this material by patients or doctors about da Vinci Surgery, are not necessarily those of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and should not be considered as substitute for medical advice provided by your doctor. © 2010 Intuitive Surgical. All rights reserved.
- Luca F, Cenciarelli S, Valvo M, et al. Full Robotic Left Colon and Rectal Cancer Resection: Technique and Early Outcome. Annals of Surgical Oncology. May 2009, Vol. 16, No. 5: 1274-1278
- Spinoglio G, Summa M, Priora F, et al., Robotic Colorectal Surgery: First 50 Cases Experience; Diseases of the Colon and Rectum; DOI 10.1007/s10350-008-9334-0 Volume 51 1627-1632 (2008)
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; National Institutes of Health. Available from: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diverticulosis/
- U.S. News & World Report; Uninsured Face Worse Outcome After Diverticulitis; Dec. 2008. Available from: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/digestive-disorders/articles/2008/12/15/uninsured-face-worse-outcomes-after-diverticulitis.html
- “Inflammatory Bowel Disease” (organization of patient-led groups from around the world). Available from: http://ibdday.bvsalud.org/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dach/ibd.htm
- The American College of Gastroenterology; Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Available from: http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/gihealth/pdf/ibd.pdf
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