Robotic Colorectal Surgery

Colorectal surgeons at the University of Chicago Medicine recognize the importance of curing disease while also preserving a patient's quality of life, including bowel and sexual function. Our surgeons provide advanced treatment options for patients with colon cancer, rectal cancer, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) and other disorders of the colon, rectum and anus.

The Benefits of Robotic Colorectal Surgery

Robotic surgery is an innovative, minimally invasive technique. During a robot-assisted procedure, a surgeon controls highly sophisticated robotic instruments while seated at a console in the operating room. This interface provides a three-dimensional image of the surgery, allowing for precise visualization and dissection of important structures, such as blood vessels and nerves. As a result, patients experience smaller incisions and less scarring, reduced pain, fewer complications, shorter hospital stays and a faster return to daily activities than with traditional, open surgeries.

UChicago Medicine's robotic colorectal surgery program is based in the state-of-the-art Center for Care and Discovery and features four da Vinci robotic systems. UChicago Medicine surgeons have unmatched experience that gives patients with complex colorectal conditions access to some of the brightest minds in robotic surgery.

Robotic Colorectal Surgery Procedures

Our colorectal surgeons have advanced training in robotic techniques. Whenever possible, we offer robotic colorectal surgery to help patients recover quickly and get back to their lives as soon as possible. Some of the robotic colorectal surgeries we offer include:

• Abdominoperineal resection (APR) for rectal cancer
• Low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer or rectal polyps
• Proctectomy for Crohn’s disease
• Proctectomy with J-pouch reconstruction for ulcerative colitis
• Reoperative pelvic surgery, benign or malignant
• Trans-abdominal repair of rectal prolapse
• Total procto-colectomy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Through collaboration with the UChicago Medicine plastic surgery team, we also have developed a virtually incision-free procedure for pelvic floor reconstruction after complex rectal cancer surgery.