Rectal cancer can leave you feeling isolated and afraid. But you do not need to worry with the right people behind you. Moreover, finding the correct care, facility, and surgery team should not add to your stress. Our experienced surgeons at Tirtham Surgical Hospital specialise in APR rectal surgery. We won’t let you fight this alone.
Don’t let the fear of rectal cancer stop you from fighting. Visit Tirthan Surgical Hospital to get expert care and facts on Lap APR. Led by Dr. Alpesh Patel, with over 16 years of expertise, our team is here to support you every step of the way.
Contact us today to get the best rectal cancer specialists near you.
Lap APR (Laparoscopic anterior resection) for rectal cancer is a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The surgery is done to remove part of the rectum affected by cancer. A surgeon makes small incisions using specialised tools to remove your:
The surgeons use a laparoscope ( a thin, lighted tube with a camera) to perform this surgery, giving less trauma to the body compared to traditional open surgery. You may need this operation if you have cancer very low in the rectum or in the anus (close to the sphincter muscles that control bowel movements.)
Lap APR Rectal Surgery is a complex surgery. Your doctors will help you prepare for your APR resection rectal cancer surgery. They will assess your medical history and discuss your present medications and other health problems. There will be other precuations pre and post your surgery.
Here is a breakdown of the procedure.
1.Preparations
You will be under anaesthesia for a pain-free procedure.
Your doctor will ask you not to smoke or drink in the weeks before your surgery. Be honest about your other health problems, such as sleep apnea, diabetes and more.
To find the exact location of your tumour and its extent, you will undergo pre-operative assessment, including imaging studies, CT scans and MRIs. The patient may need to follow a special diet and take laxatives or enemas to clean the bowel pre-surgery.
2.Positioning and Incision
You are positioned on an operating table, usually in a modified lithotomy position (lying back on your back with raised legs.)
The surgeon now creates small incisions in the abdominal wall to create entry points for the laparoscopic instruments. The incisions are typically 0.5 to 1 cm wide.
The doctor inserts a laparoscope via one of the incisions and other surgical instruments through other incisions.
3.Exploration and Mobilization
Your surgeon now carefully examines the abdominal cavity and surrounding areas of the tumour.
The surgeon frees the section of the rectum containing the tumour from surrounding tissues using the laparoscopic instruments.
4.Tumour Resection
To prevent bleeding, the surgeon identifies and isolates the blood vessels supplying blood to the affected portion of the rectum.
To ensure complete removal of the tumour, the surgeon cuts off the cancerous section of the rectum and anus and sigmoid colon. They also remove its surrounding healthy tissues.
For pathological examination and to check for the spread of cancer, nearby lymph nodes are also removed.
5.Anastomosis
The rectum’s and colon’s remaining ends are sutured or stapled together to restore bowel continuity and create an anastomosis.
If necessary, your surgeon may also create a temporary opening called the stoma for the waste to exit the body. This opening helps divert the stool away from the healing anastomosis.
6.Closure
The surgeons remove the laparoscopic and other instruments. They close the small incisions using sutures or surgical staples. Finally, the surgeons clean the surgical area and apply sterile dressings.
Post-surgery, patients are monitored and can gradually resume normal activities and eating. Hospital stays are no longer than a few days or a week. Regular follow-ups are recommended for faster healing and additional treatments.
Recovery after lap APR surgery usually takes three to six weeks. It can vary on factors such as :
Avoid problem-causing foods in the first 4 to 6 weeks after your surgery. Avoid taking alcohol or smoking. Foods high in fibre, such as oatmeal, banana and rice, can help with diarrhoea. Ask your doctor for a better understanding. Avoid large amounts of fibre for 6 to 8 weeks after surgery.
Most cancers return in the first two years or so after treatment. You are less likely to get a recurrence after five years. However, some cancers may come back many years later when they are first diagnosed.
Side effects may include:
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