Baylor Scott & White Colon and Rectal Surgical Consultants of North Texas

Anal manometry

We measure the strength of the entire sphincter complex, coordination of the muscles of the pelvic floor, sensation in the rectum and function of reflexes in the anus and rectum.

Anal ultrasound

We capture images of the sphincter and surrounding tissue. This assesses accidental bowel leakage, sphincter injuries and defects following childbirth, abscess and fistula.

Anorectal disease

Anorectal diseases occur in the anal and rectal portions of the large intestine. The most common diseases are hemorrhoids, tears, anal abscess, fissure, and fistula. Most people experience some form of the anorectal disease in their lifetime. Symptoms include itchiness, burning, blood and swelling around the rectum and anus. Treatments can vary so please consult your doctor for the best option for you.

Here is a list of anorectal diseases:

• Abscess
• Fistula
• Fissures
• Hemorrhoid
• Condyloma
• Sphincteroplasty
• Pilonidal disease
• Transanal excision

Biofeedback pelvic floor muscle retraining

We can treat accidental bowel leakage and constipation.

Colon and rectal cancer

Like most cancers, colon cancer begins with the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to the other parts of the body. Cells join together in the tissues of the colon forming polyps which can then become cancerous growths. Symptoms include a change in bowel habits including diarrhea or constipation, rectal bleeding, blood in your stool, abdominal discomfort or bloating, the feeling of not being able to empty the bowel completely, fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Early detection is key in preventing colon cancer. It is recommended to receive regular screening tests starting at the age of 50, but people who have a family history should start sooner.

Rectal cancer is cancer that forms in the final portion of the large intestine. Symptoms are similar to colon cancer such as different bowel habits than usual, diarrhea, constipation, rectal bleeding, and change in the size of the shape in stool. Early stages may not show symptoms so it is vital for all patients to receive a screening starting at the age of 50.

Colon/rectal cancer procedures:

• Laparoscopic resection
• Robotic resection

Colonic transit study

This test helps to determine whether the cause of constipation is due to a problem with ineffective contraction of the colon or due to a problem with the evacuation of the stool.

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis occurs when small bulging sacs or pouches of the inner lining of the intestine become inflamed of infected. This happens when feces get trapped in the pouches allowing bacteria to grow, leading to infection. Symptoms include fever, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and loss of appetite. The severity of symptoms depends on the extent of the infection.

Endoscopy

Lower GI endoscopy allows your doctor to view your lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Your entire colon and rectum can be examined (colonoscopy). Or just the rectum and sigmoid colon can be examined (sigmoidoscopy).

Below are types of endoscopy procedures we perform:

• Anoscopy
• Proctoscopy
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Polyp removal

Hemorrhoid care

Procedures for external hemorrhoids

• Rubber band ligation—This method is performed by placing tight elastic bands around the base of the hemorrhoid. This cuts off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid. The hemorrhoid then falls off in approximately one week
• Infrared coagulation—This procedure is performed using a small probe that exposes the hemorrhoid to short bursts of infrared light, thus sealing the blood vessels and causing it to shrink. Bleeding may occur for a few days
• Bipolar coagulation
• Electro destruction
• Sclerotherapy—This procedure is performed by injecting a chemical into the tissue around the hemorrhoid, thus causing the hemorrhoid to shrink within a few days
• Thrombosed external hemorrhoids—Thrombosed external hemorrhoids are very painful. The swollen hemorrhoid stretches the sensitive skin around it. To relieve the pain, your doctor needs to remove the blood clot. The procedure requires the area to be numbed with local anesthetic. The blood clot is then removed. The hemorrhoid is normally removed as well to prevent large skin tags.

Procedures for internal hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids do not have nerves that sense pain so discomfort is minimal. Most patients return to their normal daily routine the same day. Some hemorrhoids may require multiple treatments.

Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of conditions affecting the colon and small intestine. It is the inflammation of a patient’s digestive tract. The main types of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease is the inflammation of any part of the gastro tract from mouth to the anus but often affects the small intestine. Ulcerative colitis is the inflammation of the large intestine and/or the rectum. Symptoms of these two IBD diseases are similar. These include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, constipation, loss of appetite, fever, severe internal cramps in the region of the pelvis, and weight loss.

Procedures for inflammatory bowel disease:

• Laparoscopic colon resection with ileoanal pouch
• Strictureplasty
• Stomas

InterStim and sacral nerve stimulation

We use a simple in-office neuromodulation procedure to treat fecal incontinence.

Rectal prolapse

Your rectum is the lower part of your colon, where stool forms. If the rectum drops out of its normal place within the body and pushes out of the anal opening, the condition is called rectal prolapse.

Rectal prolapse is usually caused by a weakening of the muscles that support the rectum. In the early stages, a prolapse may happen only after a bowel movement. The protruding rectum may then slip back through the anal canal on its own. Over time, however, the prolapse may become more severe and could require surgery.