Surgical Treatment for Polyps, Fistula, and Hemorrhoids

Multidisciplinary care from leading experts: Treatment of colorectal polyps, fistula, and hemorrhoids requires collaborative care from both medicine and surgery. This unique multidisciplinary approach coordinates complex care, providing you with focused support — before, during, and after your surgery.

When you choose Weill Cornell Medicine, you have access to specialists in gastroenterology and hepatology, colon and rectal surgery, radiology, laboratory medicine and pathology, as well as nutrition.

In addition, our patients benefit from collaborative care with:

● The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health

● The Jill Roberts Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Weill Cornell Medicine partners with NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the top hospital systems in New York City and the U.S.

Surgical Treatments for Polyps, Fistula and Hemorrhoids

Our team helps patients suffering from colorectal polyps, fistula and hemorrhoids.

Colorectal polyps can grow in any part of the colon. While the majority of polyps will not become cancer, certain types may be precancerous. Having polyps removed reduces your future risk for colorectal cancer. Your doctor is likely to remove all polyps discovered during a colonoscopy screening. This is called a polypectomy. Polyps that are too large or can’t be removed safely during the screening may require more complex surgery:

●      Minimally invasive polypectomy: Polyps are removed laparoscopically, which is performed by inserting an instrument called a laparoscope into the bowel. Learn more about minimally invasive surgeries.

●      Colon and rectum removal: If you have a rare inherited syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis, you may need surgery to remove your colon and rectum (total proctocolectomy).

A fistula is an abnormal connection between two body parts, such as an organ or blood vessel and another structure. Infection or inflammation can also cause a fistula to form, or may be the result of surgery. Inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, can lead to fistulas between one loop of intestine and another. Fistula repair procedures include:

●      Fistulotomy: In this procedure, the fistula tract is opened to remove diseased tissue or drain pus. This allows the fistula tract to heal from the inside out.

●      Advancement rectal flap procedure: In this procedure, complex fistulas are closed by covering the internal opening with your own healthy tissue. This procedure can help preserve the sphincter muscle.

●      Endoscopic fistula repair: If your fistula is in the upper part of your small intestine, our surgeons may be able to remove the fistula with the help of a small flexible tube passed through your mouth and esophagus (endoscope.) Learn more about endoscopy.

All people have hemorrhoidal tissue as part of their normal anatomy. For some, hemorrhoids may become enlarged or painful. Most symptomatic hemorrhoids will not require surgical management. However, surgery may be considered if you have a large external hemorrhoid, combined internal and external hemorrhoids, or a prolapsed internal hemorrhoid. The types of hemorrhoidectomy procedures include:

●      Excisional hemorrhoidectomy: In this procedure, your surgeon removes the hemorrhoidal tissue by cutting it. They may choose to leave the tissue wound open or close it with stitches.

●      Stapled hemorrhoidopexy: In this procedure, your surgeon removes only a portion of the hemorrhoidal tissues. The remaining hemorrhoidal tissues are lifted back up into the anal canal and stapled into place with a special stapling device.

What to Expect During Your Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine