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Colorectal surgery

Colorectal surgery is the surgical management of colorectal conditions, including haemorrhoids, fistula-in-ano, pilonidal disease, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), diverticular disease, and colon and rectal cancer.

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Reviewed by Mr Nikhil Pawa, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon

What is colorectal surgery?

The term ‘colorectal’ refers to organs of the lower digestive tract, which includes the colon, rectum, anus, and small intestine.

Colorectal surgery is the surgical management of conditions that occur within these areas, including haemorrhoids, fistula-in-ano, pilonidal disease, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), diverticular disease, and colon and rectal cancer.

Our colorectal surgery department provides a range of procedures, including laparoscopic colorectal surgery and robotic colorectal surgery.

Our consultant colorectal surgeons are highly experienced in their field and work in multidisciplinary teams which include specialists from our liver, gastroenterology, and oncology departments.

What conditions are treated with colorectal surgery?

You may be referred to the colorectal surgery department if you have:

cancer – including colon and rectal cancer, and anal cancer
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
inflammatory bowel disease
haemorrhoids
hernias
anal fissures and fistulas
prolapse
diverticular disease
pilonidal disease

What colorectal diagnostics are available?

Cromwell Hospital provides a range of diagnostics tests to help assess colorectal conditions, including:

endoscopy (upper and lower gastrointestinal)
MRI scan
CT scan
PET scan
ultrasound

Why choose us for colorectal surgery?

Call us today - our team will be happy to answer any questions and book your appointment.

Self-Pay: +44 (0)20 7244 4886

Insured: +44 (0)20 7460 5700

Colorectal surgery procedures

Within the colorectal surgery department, we provide a broad range of procedures including:

endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) – a minimally invasive procedure used to remove abnormal growths (polyps) within the gastrointestinal tract
colectomy/anterior resection/abdominoperineal resection – the surgical removal of part of the colon/rectum, usually carried out as a cancer treatment
colostomy – a procedure that connects the end of the colon to an opening in the stomach wall, creating a stoma
laser ablation/banding of haemorrhoids and haemorrhoidectomy – a procedure to treat haemorrhoids (piles), which are swollen veins in the lower rectum and anus
ileostomy – a procedure that connects the end of the small intestine to an opening in the stomach wall, creating a stoma
ileoanal anastomosis (J-pouch surgery) – a procedure that allows the normal elimination of waste following the removal of the large intestine
sphincterotomy – a procedure used to treat anal fissures, which involves injecting or cutting a small portion of the sphincter muscle to reduce tension in the anal canal and promote healing
laser ablation to fistula/fistulotomy/insertion of seton – a procedure used to treat anal fistulas
EPSiT procedure – a keyhole procedure to treat pilonidal disease

Procedures may be carried out as an open surgery, laparoscopically (keyhole surgery), or using robotic technology.

Colorectal cancer surgery

Colorectal cancer can be divided into two main types: colon cancer and rectal cancer. Colon cancer involves cancers of the large bowel, while rectal cancer involves cancers of the rectum (your back passage).

The type of colorectal cancer surgery you have will depend on where your cancer is located and how advanced it is.