Colon Surgery

Colon surgery effectively treats many conditions that cause pain, disrupt digestion, and put you at risk for life-threatening complications. Board-certified general surgeon John Bollins, DO, and his highly experienced team at Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota have extensive experience performing colon surgery, including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted procedures that promote faster healing. To learn more about your surgery options, call the office in Hibbing, Duluth, or Ely, Minnesota, or request an appointment online today.

When would I need colon surgery?

Nonsurgical therapies like medication and lifestyle modifications are the first line of treatment for most colon conditions. You may need surgery if your symptoms don’t improve or you have a life-threatening condition like cancer, severe bleeding, infection, or bowel obstruction.

The skilled specialists at Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota often provide surgical care for colon conditions, such as:

• Precancerous polyps
• Colon cancer
• Diverticulosis
• Diverticulitis
• Recurrent gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeding
• Bowel obstruction
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Colonic arteriovenous (AV) malformation (a blood vessel condition)

Being proactive and choosing elective surgery can prevent emergency surgery and lower your risk of complications.

What does colon surgery involve?

Colon surgery involves a resection, which is the general name for removing the diseased part of the colon and reconnecting the two healthy ends. But colon resections have different names, depending on the procedure and area of the colon.

A few examples of colon resections include:

• Polypectomy (to cut out polyps)
• Colectomy (to remove any diseased part of the colon)
• Sigmoidectomy (to remove problems in the last section of your colon)
• Colostomy or ileostomy (to create a new way for waste to leave your body)
• Hemicolectomy (to remove a larger segment of your colon)
• Proctocolectomy (to remove colon and rectum)

Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota uses the most current and advanced technology when performing colon resections, including robotic-assisted surgery.

Will I have minimally invasive colon surgery?

Yes, whenever possible, Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota performs minimally invasive surgery. This approach uses several tiny incisions rather than one long cut. Small incisions cause less pain after surgery, lower your risk of complications, and help you recover faster.

The team also performs minimally invasive procedures using robotic-assisted surgery. While Dr. Bollins controls the robotic device, the da Vinci® robotic system enhances his surgical skill. 

The robotic arms are smaller than human hands, allowing them to easily perform delicate colon surgery. Additionally, the da Vinci system provides better visualization with a 3D, magnified camera, and the robotic arms can perform fine movement that exceeds what human hands can do.

If you need colon surgery, you deserve the highly trained and experienced team at Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota. Call the nearest office or book online to discuss your surgical needs.

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