Pain in the butt!

In the midst of the holiday season and Carnival, many of the rich food that we eat can alter our GI system and manifest itself as anal or rectal pain. While most of the pain is lumped under the title of “hemorrhoids” it can actually be from a variety of causes.

Fissures are tears in the anal skin that are exacerbated by constipation and an overactive sphincter muscle. Abscesses are pockets of infection that can lead to fistulas, or drainage tracts. And of course, there are hemorrhoids that can get clots, swell, bleed, and itch.

Fortunately, many of these can be treated with procedures in the office or medications that we can prescribe. For those problems that cannot be treated in the office, all of our surgeons are well-versed in anorectal surgeries. If you are experiencing pain, do not delay in contacting our office for an appointment as many of these issues get more complex with time.

Abdominal Colorectal Surgery

For patients that are about to undergo abdominal colorectal surgery, there is often an abundance of confusing information on the internet about which approach provides the best outcome. The three approaches are the traditional open approach using a large incision, laparoscopic using long instruments and a video camera, and robotic utilizing the DaVinci robotic system. Fortunately, Drs. Mayfield, Silinsky, and Zelhart are well-versed in all approaches. When discussing your surgery, they will discuss which approach fits your body and medical issue the best.

Patients with many past surgeries and complex medical problems may benefit from an open approach. Patients with pelvic issues may benefit from a robotic approach, while patients with abdominal problems may benefit from an abdominal approach. Whatever your medical condition is, it will be evaluated by your surgeon to come up with the best individual surgical treatment.

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Welcome to CRS Associates!

Here at Colon and Rectal Surgery Associates, we pride ourselves on being on the forefront of technology and patient care. We have participated on past research projects working on reducing surgical infection and post operative nausea. With that in mind, we are starting three new research projects in 2018.

The first project will be looking at IV Meloxicam to decrease post-operative pain. This medication is an anti-inflammatory that is administered during and after surgery to reduce pain and inflammation during recovery from abdominal surgery. This project is planned to start in January 2018

The second project will be looking at Crohn’s patients with anal fistulas. For patients that qualify with multiple anal fistula from their Crohn’s disease, adipose (fat) derived stem cells will be inserted into the fistula tracts in an attempt to get them to heal. This project is planned to start in the first quarter of 2018.

The third project will for patients who have or have a history of colon or rectal cancer. The standard blood test for monitoring recurrence is called a CEA test. This will be compared with a new blood test called Colvera, which looks a pieces of DNA found in the blood, to screen for cancer.