Colorectal surgery is a field in medicine dealing with disorders of the rectum, anus and colon. This can be anywhere from inflammatory bowel disease to treating a prolapsed rectum, haemorrhoids or even bowel cancer.

In most cases, a diagnostic colonoscopy is necessary prior to colorectal surgery. In order for the surgeon to obtain a clear view of the entire large intestine, bowel cleansing is started 24 hours prior to the procedure and patients should remain on clear fluids from that time until around three hours before their colonoscopy.

Surgery is generally performed using minimally invasive techniques also called laparoscopic (or keyhole) procedures.  They may vary from limited bowel resection (laparoscopic right hemicolectomy, laparoscopic high anterior resection) right through extensive removal of the large intestine (laparoscopic total colectomy). Resection of haemorrhoids is much simpler and is generally carried out as a day stay procedure. Continue reading →

Laparoscopic surgery, (also known as minimally invasive or keyhole surgery) is a modern surgical technique where surgeons operate on the patient through small incisions located elsewhere in the body.

While the first laparoscopic surgery was performed on humans in 1910, it wasn’t until 1986 when the introduction of video computer chips enabled images to be projected into monitors that laparoscopic surgery really gained popularity amongst surgeons and patients alike. This technology, combined with the keyhole technique paved the way for accurate, yet minimally invasive procedure options.

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Obesity has become an epidemic in Australia with now more than 60% of people suffering from weight-related issues. Obesity causes many types of diseases including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver disease, sleep apnoea, depression and more. Luckily for these people, there are now many cutting-edge weight-loss procedures available that can help patients get their weight under control and regain their health, confidence and self-esteem. Continue reading →

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that sits under your liver in the upper right hand side of your abdomen. It stores bile, a combination of fluids, cholesterol, bile salts and pigments. The main job of the gallbladder is to deliver bile into the small intestine when eating, which helps break down fat from your food. Here are some of the major symptoms you may be experiencing if you have gallbladder problems, such as stones (also known as cholelithiasis). In this situation, you may require your gallbladder to be surgically removed by a keyhole procedure. Continue reading →

A hernia refers to organs – such as intestine – that begin protruding through a particularly weak section of a patient’s abdominal wall. If this particular condition is left untreated, the split in the muscle caused by the protruding organs gradually develops. It continues to widen as greater portions of an organ or tissues are pushed through the opening, leading to the formation of a hernia sac. The emergence of a bulge or visible lump is one of the primary characteristics signalling the onset of a hernia. One such example and most commonly diagnosed is an inguinal hernia that will progressively develops in the groin. Continue reading →