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Colorectal surgery

At Cromwell Hospital, we provide expert-led colorectal surgery for the treatment of conditions including haemorrhoids, fistula-in-ano, pilonidal disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and more.

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What is colorectal surgery?

The term ‘colorectal’ refers to organs of the lower digestive tract, which includes the colon, rectum, anus, and small intestine.

Colorectal surgery is the surgical management of conditions that occur within these areas, including haemorrhoids, fistula-in-ano, pilonidal disease, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), diverticular disease, and colon and rectal cancer.

Our colorectal surgery department provides a range of procedures, including laparoscopic colorectal surgery and robotic colorectal surgery.

Our consultant colorectal surgeons are highly experienced in their field and work in multidisciplinary teams which include specialists from our liver, gastroenterology, and oncology departments.

What conditions are treated with colorectal surgery?

You may be referred to the colorectal surgery department if you have:

cancer – including colon and rectal cancer, and anal cancer
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
inflammatory bowel disease
haemorrhoids
hernias
anal fissures and fistulas
prolapse
diverticular disease
pilonidal disease

Colorectal diagnostics

You may need to undergo one or more diagnostic procedures so that your consultant can investigate the cause of your symptoms.

Endoscopy procedures will be carried out in our purpose-built suite, which is equipped with the latest facilities including video endoscopy.

Bowel screening

At Cromwell Hospital, our rapid-access bowel care diagnostic pathway aims to identify the signs of bowel cancer as early as possible.

We provide next-day appointments and diagnostic tests, and our specialists will often be able to diagnose you during your initial consultation. Once diagnosed, you will receive a tailored treatment plan, delivered by world-leading consultants at our central London hospital.

Bowel care diagnostic pathway >

Capsule endoscopy

Capsule endoscopy is a non-invasive procedure that provides your gastroenterologist with images from inside your digestive tract.

It involves swallowing a small capsule which contains a tiny, wireless camera. As the camera travels through your digestive system, it captures and transmits images to a data recorder, which is a device worn externally on a belt around your waist.

Capsule endoscopy >

Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used to assess and treat problems within your large intestine (colon) and rectum.

You might have a colonoscopy to understand the cause of bowel symptoms such as blood in your stool (poo), diarrhoea and constipation, or unexplained weight loss.

The procedure is carried out using a colonoscope, which is a thin, flexible tube fitted with a small light and video camera. The camera sends detailed images of your lower gastrointestinal system back to a monitor, where they are viewed by your gastroenterologist or specialist nurse. You may have a tissue sample (biopsy) taken during the procedure, which will be sent to a lab for testing.

Colonoscopy >

Flexible sigmoidoscopy

A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used to examine the sigmoid colon, which is the lower part of the large intestine.

A flexible sigmoidoscopy may be used to remove polyps or haemorrhoids (swollen veins in your rectum and anus). It is also used as a screening test for colon cancer and rectal cancer.

The procedure is carried out using an endoscope, which is a thin, flexible tube fitted with a small light and camera. The camera sends detailed images of your sigmoid colon back to a monitor, which is viewed by your gastroenterologist or specialist nurse.

You may have a tissue sample (biopsy) taken during the procedure, which will be sent to a lab for testing.

Gastroscopy

A gastroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used to assess and treat problems in your oesophagus (food pipe), stomach, and the first part of your small intestine (duodenum). It is a type of endoscopy, so you may also hear it referred to as an upper endoscopy.

The procedure is carried out using an endoscope, which is a thin, flexible tube fitted with a small light and camera. The camera sends detailed images of your upper gastrointestinal system back to a monitor, which is viewed by your gastroenterologist or specialist nurse. You may have a tissue sample (biopsy) taken during the procedure, which will be sent to a lab for testing.

The procedure may also be carried out to treat stomach ulcers or oesophageal bleeding, or to remove benign (non-cancerous) growths in the oesophagus.

Therapeutic gastroscopy >

Imaging and scans

Your gastroenterologist may recommend you undergo diagnostic imaging, such as:

Call us today – our team will be happy to answer any questions and book your appointment.

For self-pay patients: +44 (0)20 7244 4886

For insured patients: +44 (0)20 7460 5700

Colorectal surgery procedures

Within the colorectal surgery department, we provide a broad range of procedures including:

endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) – a minimally invasive procedure used to remove abnormal growths (polyps) within the gastrointestinal tract
colectomy/anterior resection/abdominoperineal resection – the surgical removal of part of the colon/rectum, usually carried out as a cancer treatment
colostomy – a procedure that connects the end of the colon to an opening in the stomach wall, creating a stoma
laser ablation/banding of haemorrhoids and haemorrhoidectomy – a procedure to treat haemorrhoids (piles), which are swollen veins in the lower rectum and anus
ileostomy – a procedure that connects the end of the small intestine to an opening in the stomach wall, creating a stoma
ileoanal anastomosis (J-pouch surgery) – a procedure that allows the normal elimination of waste following the removal of the large intestine
sphincterotomy – a procedure used to treat anal fissures, which involves injecting or cutting a small portion of the sphincter muscle to reduce tension in the anal canal and promote healing
laser ablation to fistula/fistulotomy/insertion of seton – a procedure used to treat anal fistulas
EPSiT procedure – a keyhole procedure to treat pilonidal disease

Procedures may be carried out as an open surgery, laparoscopically (keyhole surgery), or using robotic technology.

Colorectal cancer surgery

Colorectal cancer can be divided into two main types: colon cancer and rectal cancer. Colon cancer involves cancers of the large bowel, while rectal cancer involves cancers of the rectum (your back passage).

The type of colorectal cancer surgery you have will depend on where your cancer is located and how advanced it is.

Paying for your treatment

We welcome both self-paying and insured patients.

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