Colon & Rectum Problems

There are numerous colon and rectum problems that may occur as a result of disease or illness, injury or development problems. Some of these conditions can be treated with changes in diet or medications. Others may require surgical repair.

Diverticular Disease

• The condition of diverticulosis is the presence of pockets (diverticula) that have formed in the lining of your colon. When these pockets become inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis. The inflammation is caused by certain foods, such as grains and seeds. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, bleeding, fever, chills and bowel irregularities. In a severe case it can result in perforation of the colon. Treatment includes antibiotics, stool softeners and dietary changes.

Irritable Bowel/Crohn's/Colitis

• Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that is sometimes called spastic colon or nervous stomach. It causes constipation or diarrhea. Symptoms include bloating, abdominal cramps, abnormal consistency of stools, passage of mucus, urgency and the feeling that you have not completely emptied your bowel. Treatment includes dietary changes and prescription medications to relax your intestinal muscles. Crohn's disease is an autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease that is characterized by diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain and cramping, bloating, fever and weight loss. Treatment includes anti-inflammatory medications and immunosuppressants. Ulcerative colitis is the inflammation of the colon and rectum, and it manifests symptoms of abdominal cramps, diarrhea, bleeding, weight loss and fever. Treatment includes antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. Surgery to remove sections of diseased bowel may be necessary in some cases of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Polyps

• Polyps are growths that form on the lining of the colon or rectum. They are a common condition and in most cases they are benign. There are usually no symptoms and they are typically found during a routine colonoscopy or an x-ray of your bowel. Polyps are usually removed during a colonoscopy and then sent for diagnostic testing. If they are not removed, they can become cancerous.

Rectal Prolapse

• Rectal prolapse is a condition in which the rectum has been stretched, often due to a weak anal sphincter muscle, which results in the rectum protruding from the anus. It may be caused by childbirth or many years of straining with bowel movements. Treatment usually involves rectal surgery or laparoscopic abdominal surgery, depending on the extent of the condition.

Bowel Incontinence

• Bowel incontinence is the difficulty or inability to control your gas and stool. It is often caused by damage to the anal muscle or anal nerve, and can occur during childbirth, injury to the anus or as a result of anal surgery. Symptoms include diarrhea with urgency and leakage of liquid stool and gas. Treatment can include changes in your diet, medications that induce constipation, exercises to strengthen the anal muscle, surgical repair or the use of an artificial sphincter muscle.

Cancer

• According to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, killing approximately 56,000 Americans each year. It usually begins with a benign polyp that continues to grow and becomes malignant. Symptoms include rectal bleeding, diarrhea and constipation. Weight loss and abdominal pain can appear late in the disease. The best prevention is routine examinations that include colorectal cancer screening.

Anatomic Conditions

• Some congenital anatomic conditions cause blocked or obstructed bowel. These include malrotation of the bowel (the area at the end of the small bowel and beginning of the colon is not positioned correctly), small bowel and colonic intussusception (one section of the bowel tunnels into an adjacent section), colonic atresia (the tubular shape of the colon is closed), volvulus (a portion of the intestine becomes twisted), and imperforate anus (the anal/rectal area is not formed normally or is not fully developed). These conditions may be corrected with surgery.