Colon disease can be approached laparoscopically in certain situations:

● Recurrent diverticulosis
● Cancer
● Diverting colostomies

The need for colon surgery is often preceded by a colonoscopy which is performed to identify and diagnose a serious condition that is within your colon. Symptoms of large intestine disease commonly include the following:

● New onset of constipation and/or diarrhea.
● Blood or mucus in the stool.
● A narrowing or a change in the caliber of your stool – it may even look ribbon-like.
● Recurrent and constant lower abdominal pain frequently just left of the midline.

The diagnosis of colon disease is frequently made with the help of your family doctor and/or a gastroenterologist. Some tests may be required to diagnose a colon abnormality and may include the following:

● Barium enema – a series of x-rays of your abdomen after contrast material is placed within your rectum.
● Colonoscopy – the placement of a flexible tube in your rectum that is advanced through your colon that is used to see if  there is an abnormality within the colon.
● CAT scans – an x-ray that is used to see in your abdomen without surgery, looking for a tumor or an inflammatory condition of the large intestine.

Should you have a colon condition that needs surgery, a consultation with one of our surgeons may be of benefit to you to determine if you are a candidate for a laparoscopic approach to your colonic condition.