Colorectal Surgery

Surgical Procedures

Anorectal procedures for...

abscesses – an anal abscess is a pocket of pus that develops near the anus, typically caused by bacterial contamination of an anal gland. Treatment involves surgical drainage.

cancer - colon cancer and the usual operation is called a segmental resection, in which the cancer and a length of normal tissue on either side of the cancer are removed, as well as the nearby lymph nodes.

fecal incontinence – fecal incontinence has many causes, chief among them cancer surgery or radiation that alters the structures of the rectum or the muscles and nerves that control fecal elimination. Fecal incontinence can often be corrected surgically.

fissures – an anal fissure typically develops after straining to move the bowels when constipated. A hard stool can tear the delicate anal skin. Small fissures often heal on their own; larger, deeper fissures may require surgical closure. Patients can prevent recurrent fissures by maintaining adequate hydration and eating a diet high in fiber.

fistulas – an anal fistula is the development of an abnormal pathway from the rectum to the anal area. Feces or pus travel down this passage and exit the body there rather than through the anus. Surgery is required to correct this condition.

hemorrhoids - In some cases, it is necessary to treat hemorrhoids surgically.

procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH) -- appropriate for patients with prolapsed hemorrhoids. It involves using a circular stapling device, which “lifts up,” or repositions, the affected tissue and reduces blood flow to the internal hemorrhoids, which then shrink four to six weeks after the procedure. The benefits of PPH over the conventional excision procedure for prolapsed hemorrhoids are reduced pain (since the procedure affects few nerve endings due to the placement of the staples), a subsequent reduced need for pain medication, and a faster recovery time (about two weeks versus four). Available at Corning Hospital and Guthrie’s Same Day Surgery Center in Big Flats with Guthrie general surgeon Burt Cagir, MD. For more information about PPH, call Dr. Cagir’s office at (570) 882-2454.

Guthrie surgeons offer surgical procedures for the following colon conditions: