Colorectal Surgery

Colorectal Surgery at UVM Health

Conditions of the large intestine (colon) and its lower region (rectum) can affect your health and impact your quality of life. Expert colorectal surgeons at University of Vermont Health use leading-edge surgical techniques, including robotic surgery and minimally invasive procedures, to restore your colorectal function.

Our board-certified colon and rectal surgeons use proven strategies to treat your specific health needs. We offer compassionate care for colorectal cancer and other diseases of the anus, bowel and rectum, including the most complex colorectal conditions.

Why Choose UVM Health?

As one of the leading colorectal surgery programs in the region, we offer:

Advanced techniques: We use minimally invasive surgery whenever possible to help you heal and recover faster. Our board-certified anesthesiologists use targeted approaches to help manage the physical impacts of surgery on your body.
Team-based care: Our colorectal surgeons work with experts from every specialty that affects colorectal health. We use the collective expertise of our surgeons, gastroenterologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists and radiologists to develop your personalized treatment plan.
Research focus: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physicians are active researchers, many of whom are training the next generation of experts.

Conditions We Treat

Our specialists treat a full range of colorectal health conditions. We use surgery to treat:

Anal Conditions

Our surgeons repair and treat anal conditions such as:

Anal fissures: Tears in the lining of the anus
Anal fistula: An opening that forms under the skin between the anal canal and the buttocks
Hemorrhoids: Inflammation in the veins near the anus or in the rectum

Bowel Conditions

Surgeons at UVM Health work closely with gastroenterology experts to treat inflammatory bowel diseases such as:

Crohn’s disease: Inflammation of the digestive tract
Diverticulitis: Pouches form in the lining of the colon or small intestine and become inflamed or infected
Ulcerative colitis: Inflammation of the lining of the large intestine

Cancer

We perform specialized surgeries to treat gastrointestinal cancers such as:

Anal cancer
Colon cancer
Rectal cancer

Fecal (Bowel) Incontinence

Our surgeons use sacral nerve stimulation to treat loss of bowel control (fecal incontinence). Surgeons implant thin wires under your skin near nerves in your lower pelvis (sacrum). A battery-powered device sends electrical impulses through the wires to the muscles that control the anus.

What to Expect

Our team takes a comprehensive approach to understanding your colorectal health and how it affects your life. We work closely with you and collaborate with gastroenterologists and other specialists to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets your specific health needs.

During your first appointment, your surgeon will:

Ask you about your symptoms
Conduct a physical examination
Explain the results of any prior imaging studies, including CT scans and MRIs
Talk with you about options for treating colorectal conditions

Our surgeons take the time to answer your questions. We make sure you have the information you need to make the treatment decision that’s right for you.

Colorectal Surgery Types

Whenever possible, our surgeons use minimally invasive colorectal surgery. A minimally invasive approach uses smaller incisions and results in less blood loss and tissue trauma. Minimally invasive surgery can also lead to a faster, less painful recovery.

The type of surgery you have will depend on your specific health condition. Your surgeon makes a recommendation based on your:

Colorectal condition
Existing scar tissue
History of prior surgeries

We talk with you about your health and lifestyle goals. Our surgeons will recommend a surgical procedure that keeps your goals in mind and offers the best chance for a good outcome.

Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery

In laparoscopic surgery, our surgeons insert a thin instrument with a light and camera on the end (laparoscope) through small incisions in the abdomen. The camera sends images to a monitor, giving your surgeon a magnified view.

Surgeons then insert tiny instruments to repair tissue or remove all or part of the colon (colectomy).

Robotic Colorectal Surgery

Robotic surgery allows surgeons to perform complex procedures with more precision than is possible with conventional techniques. They insert robotic arms with attached surgical instruments through tiny incisions in your abdomen. The surgeon sits at a console and uses advanced computerized equipment to control the robotic arms with tiny, precise movements.

Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM)

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a procedure to remove small tumors and polyps from the rectum. Your surgeon inserts a long tube with a light and camera (endoscope) into the anus to access the rectum. Tools passed through the endoscope remove tissue without the need for an incision.

Open Colorectal Surgery

When minimally invasive surgery isn’t possible, we perform open surgery to treat colorectal conditions. Surgeons make an incision in the abdominal wall to access the colon. Our surgeons recommend open surgery only when it is the most effective and safest option.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)

Colorectal experts across UVM Health work together to help manage pain and restore normal bowel function faster after surgery. Our Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) approach helps decrease pain and nausea after surgery. Our anesthesiologists may:

Give you medication before surgery to help reduce swelling and pain during healing
Monitor and control the amount of fluid you receive intravenously during surgery to prevent fluid build-up in the lungs and complications that can affect your heart and bowels
Offer spinal block medication before abdominal surgery to help decrease pain in the first 24 hours after surgery

We modify our approach based on medications you take and your health history. With ERAS, you may be able to go home sooner and return to normal activities more quickly.