COLORECTAL SURGERY BLOG

Get the PDF version of this article OLD AGE IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. I am an older American (insert your own age here.)  I only plan so far into the future (insert your own days, weeks, months or years, here).  Should I roll the dice and undergo colorectal screening? (insert your own

Symptoms If you have a colon abscess caused by diverticulitis, you might not know it right away. The initial symptoms may feel like the flu. Diarrhea or constipation, lack of appetite, fever, and chills can sometimes be an indicator of a diverticular abscess. But if you have severe pain or pressure in your lower abdomen,

Colonoscopy, Barium Enema, Virtual Colonoscopy The colon is often the site of development of overgrowth of the lining called polyps.  Polyps are usually benign and harmless.  However, polyps can transform into colon cancers and it is for this reason that your doctor may recommend a screening test to evaluate the colon lining. If you need

Video Transcription: One of the treatments we have special training in is the treatment of Pilonidal disease. Pilonidal disease really came to the forefront during World War II, when 79,000 soldiers were afflicted with it. It was known as the Jeep Driver Disease, and the reason was that a lot of jeep drivers were getting

The Robotic Evolution The terms robotic surgery, robotically assisted surgery or computer assisted surgery, all refer to a technological development in the field of surgical procedures. In quite a number of operating rooms today, you will find robotic systems aiding colon and rectal surgeons, also know as proctologists, during surgical procedures. Robotically assisted surgery was

Proctitis It’s easy to take your health for granted. Most of us eat meals at least three times a day plus snacks, and make a few trips to the bathroom once the food has been digested, nutrients absorbed, and waste produced. But when your gastrointestinal system is compromised in some way, a trip to the

Video Transcription: Gary H. Hoffman, MD: Recently I was fortunate enough to be able to travel to Guatemala to give care to those without access to medical or surgical care. I traveled under the auspices of Helps International. It’s a non-profit organization dedicated to the care of the Guatemalan people. It was the trip of

IBS?  IBD? Not The Same.  Different Diseases. Many people confuse Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).  These conditions are not the same thing but many patients confuse these conditions and ask whether they have Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome.  Read this article to understand the differences and which one matches your symptoms. It’s one

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).  Irritating.  Do I Have It? Make no mistake, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS for short), is real.  It is not all “in your head.” The pain, the cramping, the diarrhea and the constipation are real, and your proctologist, also known as a colon and rectal surgeon, can help diagnose and treat it.

What is diverticulosis? If you have diverticulosis, you have small bulges or pouches in the lining of your colon. This may make it difficult to have a bowel movement, which forces the colon to exert a greater amount of pressure than normal to go to the bathroom. While this is a common condition in older