You might need anal-rectal surgery if you have a condition like inflammatory bowel disease IBD , anal fistulas, or rectal prolapse. Merchant-McCambry is fellowship-trained in gastrointestinal system procedures. Call the office in San Antonio, Texas, or book an appointment online to learn more about anal-rectal surgery today.
Anal-rectal surgery treats conditions affecting the rectum and anus โ the last parts of your digestive system. The rectum is where stools form from food waste before passing through the anus when you have a bowel movement.
In some cases, anal-rectal surgery is the primary treatment. Patients with anal or rectal disorders often undergo an endoscopic procedure before surgery. This involves using a flexible, tubular instrument to examine the rectum. Endoscopes used in the rectum are called sigmoidoscopes. They have a camera on their tip that sends back images of your rectal tissues to a monitor for Dr.
Merchant-McCambry to assess. You could undergo a biopsy if any abnormal tissue is found during the procedure. This involves extracting a small tissue sample for lab analysis. If rectal polyps small growths that are usually harmless but can become cancerous are found, Dr. Merchant-McCambry will remove them during your sigmoidoscopy. Hemorrhoids are bulging veins on or just inside the anus that can be pretty painful. Fissures are cracks or splits in the soft tissues, usually caused by straining when passing large or compacted stools.
Fistulas are unnatural channels that form between the anus and the outer skin or the rectum and other abdominal organs. Anal and rectal cancers can require surgery to remove the affected tissues before cancerous cells spread metastasize.
