COLORECTAL SURGERY BLOG

Itching around the anal area, called pruritis ani, is a common condition. The itching may be intractable. This is usually most noticeable and bothersome at night or after bowel movements.

Get the PDF version of this article What is a pilonidal cyst? A pilonidal cyst is a lump under the skin, located in the crease between the buttocks.  It may cause an infection, or ‘abscess’, under the skin, near or above the tailbone, and may cause pain and swelling in the area.  Sometimes, like a

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Diverticulosis’ is a term that refers to abnormal ‘pockets’ in the colon. It is a common condition in North America. These ‘pockets’ form in the colon as patients age, and occur in more than 50% of Americans by age 65. Diverticular disease will affect almost all Americans by age 80. These ‘pockets’, or diverticulae, (singular-diverticula) cannot become malignant (cancerous) and will never cause problems in the majority of patients who have them.

Get the PDF version of this article The Good News? These are Rare Lesions. PERIANAL TUMORS: “Most of these rare anal tumors are aggressive tumors and are difficult to treat. The best that can be said of them is that they are rare.” pdf only Paget’s Disease Perianal Paget’s disease is thought to be a

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Minimally invasive surgical techniques have gained popularity in approaching benign diseases such as cholecystitis, appendicitis, gastric fundoplications, benign colorectal polyps, and recurrent diverticulitis. Initial concerns for the laparoscopic approach to colorectal cancer have centered around the oncologic principles of adequate tumor excision, lymph node and mesentery excision, early reports of port-site (incisional) recurrence, and lack of long-term follow-up in well conducted studies. A significant number of recent well conducted prospective studies have shed new light on these topics, effectively reshaping the approach to colorectal cancer.

A rectocele is a forward bulging or displacement of the rectum into the vagina. This creates a pouch into which stool can accumulate and become trapped, often causing difficulty in initiating or completing a bowel movement. Patients with this condition often describe having to push or ‘splint’ inside or near their vagina in order to complete a bowel movement.

Rectal prolapse is a condition in which the rectum loses its internal support and protrudes out of the anus. In the earliest phase, the rectal prolapse may be internal, but as the condition progresses, the rectum can be seen or felt outside of the body. When this occurs, it is called a complete rectal prolapse. Weakness of the anal sphincter muscle is often an associate problem at this stage and may result in leakage of stool or mucus at unwanted times. The condition occurs in both sexes, but is more common in women than in men.

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