Colorectal Surgery Services

Is a tear in the lining of the anal canal. This is thought to be the result of a minor trauma such as passing a hard bowel motion.

A fistula is an abnormal connection between 2 parts of the body. This can occur between a variety of different organs. An anal fistula is an abnormal connection between the skin around the anus and the lining of the anal canal. This is a tract or a tunnel.

Is the endoscopic examination of the large bowel and the distal part of the small bowel with a CCD camera or a fiber optic camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus. It can provide a visual diagnosis (e.g. ulceration, polyps) and grants the opportunity for biopsy or removal of suspected colorectal cancer lesions.

Is an inflammatory condition of the bowel. It can affect any part of the gut from the mouth to the anus, but most commonly involves the lower small bowel (terminal ileum) the large bowel (colon) and the anus.

Is a common finding in the bowel. Diverticulae are small protrusions of the lining of the bowel through the bowel wall. The protrusions form pockets or blowouts from the bowel. They occur most commonly in the sigmoid colon.

also called faecal incontinence, bowel incontinence or anal incontinence, is a lack of control over defecation, leading to involuntary loss of bowel contents-including flatus, liquid stool elements and mucus, or solid feces. FI is a sign or a symptom, not a diagnosis. Incontinence can result from different causes and might occur with either constipation or diarrhoea

Haemorrhoids (piles) are part of normal anatomy. They are part of the normal lining of the anus. They occur in everybody. Haemorrhoids are only a problem if they cause symptoms such as protruding lumps, itch, discomfort, pain or bleeding.

Is a medical condition in which inflammation and injury of the large intestine result from inadequate blood supply. Ischemic colitis occurs with greater frequency in the elderly, and is the most common form of bowel ischemia Causes of the reduced blood flow can include changes in the systemic circulation (e.g. low blood pressure) or local factors such as constriction of blood vessels or a blood clot. In most cases, no specific cause can be identified.

This is a common condition where there is itching or irritation around the skin of the anus. Most commonly it occurs because of a small amount of leakage of bowel motion or mucus from the anus. This is not a result of poor hygiene but because of the way the anus functions and closes after a bowel motion.

A rectal prolapse occurs when either the inner lining of the rectum (mucosal rectal prolapsed) or the whole of the rectum (full thickness rectal prolapsed) passes through the anus, usually during the passage of bowel action.

General Surgery Services

Laparoscopic surgery is abdominal surgery that is performed using small incisions, a telescope and long instruments in order to perform procedures in the past that have required a large cut. Because a long cut is not required to complete the surgery, there is less pain after the operation, bowel function returns faster and in general patients are able to leave hospital and return to work earlier.

Cancer of the large bowel is the most common internal cancer in Australia. It will affect 1 in 24 Australians, it affects both sexes equally. Bowel cancer can occur at any age but it usually begins at the age of 40 and is most common in the 70's. It is a disease that is principally treated with surgery. Cancer found at an early stage has good outlook and it is certainly possible to cure the cancer. If the cancer has spread or is more advanced the outlook may not be as good and curing the cancer may not be possible.