Small Bowel and Colon Surgery

Our general surgeons have extensive experience with small bowel and colon surgery for colon cancer and other benign and malignant diseases of the colon.

954-276-7874 Our Doctors

Our Approach to Intestinal Surgery

General surgeons at Memorial Healthcare System have extensive experience in many different small bowel and colon procedures. Our surgeons use advanced minimally invasive surgery whenever possible to provide better outcomes and shorter recovery.

Call us to schedule an appointment with one of our surgeons

954-276-7874

Conditions of the Small and Large Intestines We Treat

Your intestine carries food from your stomach to your anus. Initially, the small intestine or small bowel breaks down food and absorbs nutrients. Then the large intestine, or colon, absorbs water and eliminates waste.

Our surgeons treat a variety of noncancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) conditions that affect both the small and large intestines, including:

Bowel Obstructions

A bowel obstruction is a blockage in the intestine that slows or stops the passage of food, water, and waste through the intestinal tract. It can be caused by scar tissue that develops after abdominal surgery. Other conditions that can cause bowel obstructions include:

Cancerous tumors
Diverticulitis
Inflammatory bowel disease
Hernias

Colitis

Colitis is inflammation in the large intestine. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stools are common symptoms. There are many causes of colitis, including infection, reduced blood flow to the colon, and radiation therapy. Colitis also occurs in inflammatory bowel disease, which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

When severe, colitis can cause dangerous complications, including:

Perforated colon and peritonitis: Sores (ulcers) can develop in the wall of the colon and tear (perforate). Bacteria from the colon can leak into the abdomen, causing a severe infection called peritonitis.
Toxic megacolon: Inflammation in the colon can affect the muscles and slow digestion. Waste and gas build up, and toxins from your colon enter your bloodstream.

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States. It occurs when a growth of cells in the intestine (polyps) becomes cancerous.

Not all polyps will become cancerous. Doctors can remove polyps during a colonoscopy to reduce the risk of cancer. Larger polyps and cancerous tumors require surgery.

Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis

Diverticula are pouches that form in the wall of your colon. They occur when pressure from inside the colon pushes a section of the wall outward.

Diverticulosis happens when diverticula forms and may not cause any problems.

Diverticulitis happens when the pouches become infected, causing pain, fever, nausea, constipation, or diarrhea.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease is an autoimmune condition that happens when your immune system attacks your own tissues. It includes ulcerative colitis, which affects your colon, and Crohn’s disease, which can affect any part of your digestive tract.

Small Intestine Cancer

Cancer of the small intestine is rare. They can develop in different types of cells, such as the intestinal lining or muscles.

Call us to schedule an appointment with one of our surgeons

954-276-7874

Small Bowel and Colon Surgery at Memorial Healthcare System

Our surgeons have comprehensive training in advanced minimally invasive surgery. We perform thousands of minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic procedures every year. Minimally invasive techniques can reduce the time you spend in surgery, minimize pain after surgery, and speed up your recovery.

Laparoscopy involves inserting a camera and tiny instruments through small incisions in your abdomen. In some cases, we use robotic surgery, where the surgeon controls robotic arms and instruments from a console in the operating room.

Minimally invasive procedures are typically faster than open procedures, so you spend less time under anesthesia. They’re also associated with less pain, fewer complications, and a speedier recovery.

When you come to us for care, you will meet with a surgeon. During this consultation, we discuss your diagnosis and treatment options. We work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan.

The main procedures we perform include:

When you meet with our surgeons, we discuss the diagnosis and find the best option for treatment, which may include:

Colon Resection (Colectomy)

Colon resection (colectomy) involves removing part or all of your colon. After removing the section of colon, your surgeon joins the healthy ends back together. Our surgeons typically perform partial colectomies to treat:

Bowel obstructions
Colitis
Crohn’s disease
Some colon cancers

Ostomy and Ostomy Reversal Surgery

Sometimes, your surgeon cannot reconnect the intestine right away after removing a diseased section. To allow waste to exit your body, we perform an ostomy. This procedure involves connecting your intestine to an opening in your abdomen called a stoma. A small pouch attached to the stoma collects the waste.

There are two types of ostomies:

Ileostomy: The bottom of the small intestine is connected to the stoma.
Colostomy: The colon is attached to the stoma.

An ostomy is usually temporary to allow your body to heal from surgery. After you heal, the surgeon performs an ostomy reversal to close the opening and reconnect your intestines.

Living with an ostomy can be physically and emotionally challenging. Our Ostomy Clinic brings together multiple specialists to help you cope and manage the different aspects of care.

Small Bowel Resection

In this procedure, your surgeon removes a portion of your small bowel and then reconnects the ends. Small bowel resection is a treatment for:

Bowel obstructions
Crohn’s disease
Small intestine cancer

Diagnosing Conditions of the Small Intestine and Colon

We use the following tests and procedures to make an accurate diagnosis, including:

Endoscopy: In this procedure, a long, flexible scope examines the inside of your small bowel (upper endoscopy) or colon (colonoscopy). A tissue sample (biopsy) for laboratory analysis may be taken.
Imaging tests: X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs can help your doctor evaluate the tissues of your small and large intestines. Magnetic resonance (MR) enterography is a special type of MRI that uses contrast dye to look at the small intestine.
Laboratory tests: Blood and stool tests can detect infection, inflammation, and bleeding in your digestive tract.

Collaborative Care for Small Intestine Cancer and Colon Cancer

When treating cancers of the small intestine and colon, our surgeons work with a multidisciplinary oncology team. Close coordination between team members ensures you get the right treatments at the right time.

Your cancer care team may include:

Medical oncologists: Doctors who use medication therapies, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, to slow or stop the spread of cancer.
Pathologists: Doctors who look at tissue samples (biopsies) under a microscope to diagnose diseases, including cancer.
Radiation oncologists: Doctors who plan and deliver radiation treatments that aim intense doses of energy at a tumor to destroy cancer cells.

Small Bowel and Colon Surgery: Why Choose Memorial Healthcare System?

Our general surgeons are highly trained in a variety of surgical conditions and methods. Choose our hospitals for:

Convenience: We have multiple hospitals with experienced surgeons throughout Broward County in South Florida. You can get convenient care close to home.
Experience: All our surgeons have advanced training in minimally invasive surgery, as well as traditional open surgery. We perform thousands of surgeries every year using these techniques.
Patient- and family-centered care: We put patients and their families at the center of our care. Our approach helps you make the right treatment decisions and get the care you need from a team of caring providers.