Colorectal Surgery - Proctology

Colorectal Surgery – Proctology in Benalmadena / Arroyo de la Miel

Colorectal surgery is a field in medicine dealing with disorders of the rectum, anus, and colon. The field is also known as proctology, but this term is now used infrequently within medicine and is most often employed to identify practices relating to the anus and rectum.

Due to the complexity of problems in region of the end of the colon, the colorectal surgery has become a separated surgical speciality deviating from abdominal surgery more than 50 years ago. To become a colorectal surgeon, the physician must go through the training as a general surgeon, followed by a specialist training and a final exam for colorectal surgery.

Although it seems a small anatomical area, the colorectal surgeon, also known as proctologist, is confronted with a multitude of abnormalities in this region.

The colon, rectum and anus could be affected by inflammatory diseases like diverticulitis or Crohn’s disease, inflammation of the veins, called haemorrhoids, abnormal connections called fistulas, constipation or faecal incontinence, rectal prolapse or even cancer.

To find the pathology behind any issue of the colorectal area the colorectal surgeon, the proctologist, would take the detailed medical history, perform a visual and digital exam, and possibly a so-called colonoscopy, meaning looking into the end of your colon with a scope. On some occasions a blood test and a bacterial swab might be needed.

There are several treatments that can be initiated immediately, reaching from local application of cremes, anti-inflammatory medication, physiotherapy for pelvic floor exercises and other. Sometimes it might be necessary to perform some out-patient surgery under local anaesthetic to deal with haemorrhoids, fistulas or fissures, or even in-patient surgery for more sophisticated pathologies like ulcers or tumours.

The most important approach for any issue in the colorectal area, as in any other area of the human body, is prevention. So get in touch with the colorectal surgeon, the proctologist, or with your GP who would know what specialist you would need to be referred to. Or get in touch with us and we shall get you in the right direction.