Colon & Rectal Surgery

Surgical Care for Conditions Affecting the Colon, Rectum and Anus

At Lahey Clinic, you have access to the most advanced colorectal surgical care available. Our skilled surgeons offer the full range of colorectal procedures. From common treatments to today’s most innovative operations, you’ll find everything you need at Lahey. And you’ll get it with compassion and empathy from our experts. Our entire team is committed to your safety, comfort and healing.

Colorectal Procedures We Offer

Our colorectal surgeons are members of the American Society of Colon and Rectum Surgeons and are board-certified. They’ve demonstrated expertise in all types of colon and rectal surgical care, including laparoscopic procedures. Compared to open surgery, these minimally invasive procedures offer smaller incisions, less pain and fewer complications. They also lead to a faster recovery. Surgeries we offer to treat digestive conditions include:

• Abdominoperineal resection: Surgeons commonly use this rectum removal surgery for rectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease that doesn’t respond to other treatments.
• Abscess/fistula surgery: This treatment addresses puss-filled pockets or abnormal tunnels that develop between your anal canal and the skin near your anus.
• Anorectal reconstruction, including sphincter repair: Surgeons rebuild the anus and rectum after damage from birth defects, disease or injury.
• Coloanal anastomosis: This surgery reattaches your colon to your anus after your rectum has been removed. Usually, this is related to colorectal cancer treatment
• Colonic J pouch: In this procedure, surgeons create an internal pouch from the end of your small intestine after colon removal. Then they connect the pouch to your anus. It holds stool until you’re ready to pass it. This allows you to avoid an external bag for stool collection.
• Colon resection: A resection removes diseased portions of your colon.
• Coloplasty: This procedure uses part of your colon to reconstruct part of your digestive tract. Surgeons may use colon tissue to replace a diseased esophagus, for example. 
• Hemorrhoidectomy: With this hemorrhoid treatment, surgeons remove excess tissue causing bleeding and protrusion. It’s an option for internal and external hemorrhoids. Surgeons may staple internal hemorrhoids in an alternative procedure.
• Ileostomy/colostomy creation: These procedures create an opening in your abdominal wall where stool can exit your body. The stool collects in an external bag. Surgeons create an ileostomy from your small intestine when they remove both your colon and rectum. They create a colostomy when they remove only your rectum.
• Pilonidal cyst excision: Surgeons removal or open a painful cyst that forms near your tailbone. • Lateral internal sphincterotomy: This procedure is used to treat a tear in your anus (anal fissure). It may involve cutting a portion of your internal sphincter muscle to lessen pain and spasm or injecting Botox. • Low anterior resection: Surgeons remove your rectum and connect your colon to your anus.
• Rectal prolapse surgery: These are several procedures that involve removing of a portion of your colon that has slipped through your anus. Surgeons also take steps to hold the rectum in place.
• Sacral nerve stimulation for fecal incontinence: Surgeons implant a device that sends electrical impulses to your sacral nerves. These nerves coordinate muscles and tissues at the base of your pelvis, your rectum and anal sphincter. The treatment may help prevent stool from leaking. • Small bowel resection: Surgeons remove the diseased portion of your small bowel. Then they sew the healthy bowel back together.
• Sphincteroplasty: This procedure tightens or strengthens the sphincter muscles associated with fecal incontinence.
• Total colectomy: Surgeons remove your entire colon, and sometimes, your rectum. You have an ileostomy after this procedure.
• Total mesorectal excision: In this treatment for rectal cancer, a large portion of bowel around your tumor is removed.
• Transanal endoscopic microsurgery: Surgeons use this minimally invasive procedure to remove rectal growths and early-stage tumors.
• Treatment of anal condyloma (anal warts): This procedure destroys warts using electrical current, surgery or both.

Comprehensive Colorectal Cancer Care

If you’re diagnosed with colorectal cancer, a team of specialists will be at your side. Lahey provides all aspects of colorectal cancer care, including surgery.

From the moment you become our patient, you’ll know you’re in the right place and in expert hands. Through all phases of your treatment, we provide seamless, integrated care. We focus on you and your specific needs and treat you with respect every step of the way.