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Colon Resection Specialists in Los Angeles

Our doctors are experts in advanced general surgery procedures, such as colon resection, colectomy (removal of the large intestine), and colon cancer surgery. Our board-certified colorectal surgeons are specialists in laparoscopic and robotic-assisted procedures.

Our founder, Dr. Theodore M. Khalili, MD, FACS, has performed more than 8,000 advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgeries. He is the first surgeon to perform robotic-assisted bypass surgery in the United States. He is also board-certified in general surgery and surgical critical care.

Dr. Kahlili helped develop the bariatric program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. At the same medical center, he also served his medical internship and residency in general surgery

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My name is Dr. Theodore Khalili, surgeon and founder of Weight Loss Surgery of Southern California. I founded the Center because I have dedicated my life-long professional work to patient care. My approach to patient-centric partnerships and service-oriented facilities offer a comprehensive and holistic approach to bariatric treatment – all in one place.

I believe that patient care does not end right after surgery – it’s only the beginning. I founded the Center to give patients access to a supportive community that guides them through each step of the weight loss journey. We work with a team of registered dieticians, psychologists and general doctors to create tailored, best-in-class care available.

I have performed over 8,000 bariatric surgeries…

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Dr. Theodore M. Khalili,
Founder and Director
Khalili Center for Bariatric Care


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Is Colon Resection Right for You?

When you are experiencing problems with your colon (large intestine and rectum), it is recommended that you consult with a gastroenterologist. Diagnosing colon diseases will require a colonoscopy or barium enema (x-ray exam of the colon). Depending on your disease, you will be referred to a colorectal surgeon. If colon cancer is suspected, you will be directed to a cancer center. The oncologist will ask you to undergo cancer screening.

Recommendations for colorectal surgery will come from our surgeons, your oncologist, or specialist. They will recommend colon resection surgery or colectomy based on expertise and knowledge of your disease. The doctors will recommend colon resection if the surgical procedure is the only solution to improve your life quality. 

The following diseases and their symptoms may require surgical treatment(2):

  • Colorectal cancer – bleeding, weight loss, blockage, diarrhea, abdominal pain
  • Rectal cancer – anal fissures, hemorrhoids, blockage
  • Diverticular disease (diverticulitis) – inflammation of small pouches (diverticulosis) developed in the large intestine 
  • Inflammatory bowel disease – diarrhea, fever, fatigue, abdominal pain
  • Crohn’s disease – pain, irritable bowel disease, weight loss
  • Anorectal disease – anal fissures, hemorrhoids
  • Rectal prolapse – pain in the rectum, pus, bleeding
  • Polyposis syndrome – precancerous polyps
  • Ulcerative colitis

Pre-Surgery Preparation

Pre-operative preparation includes medical evaluation, examinations, blood tests, chest X-ray, and an electrocardiogram (EKC) among older patients. During the operation, you may need a blood supply. Our surgeon will discuss the possibilities of blood transfusion and help you understand the risks. The surgeon will ask you to undergo a mechanical bowel preparation several days before the procedure. Mechanical bowel preparation includes cleansing of the colon using laxatives and clear liquids. The surgeon will also prescribe antibiotics during the preparation. The purpose of mechanical bowel preparation is to avoid an infection or leakage after surgery(3)

Several days before the surgery, you must discontinue taking aspirin, blood thinners, vitamin E, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If you are a smoker, our surgeon will ask you to quit smoking indefinitely to prevent any complications. The midnight before the surgery, you must refrain from eating or drinking, except for medications prescribed by our surgeon. If your stomach is not empty before the surgery, the procedure will be postponed.

On the day of your surgery, you must shower before you come in and not put on lotions, creams, or perfume. You must also make arrangements for friends, family members, or healthcare provider to help you with hospital discharge and daily tasks at home.


Life After Colon Resection

Surgery outcomes will depend on the type of procedure and the patient’s condition. You can discuss expectations with our surgeon before the procedure. It has been well-documented that colon resection could increase life quality among patients suffering from bowel diseases. For instance, individuals with Crohn’s disease reported relief from symptoms and improved overall life quality after the surgery(4)

Moreover, colon resection has been documented to increase the survival rates of early-stage colon cancer patients by 71%(5)Procedures, such as colostomy and ileostomy, will require the patient to eliminate stools through an opening in the abdomen (stoma).  If you are undergoing these types of procedures, you will need to adapt. There are several options for durable and easy-to-use colostomy bags in the market. Living life with a colostomy bag has its benefits. For instance, you may find relief from bowel symptoms. You can also go back to work and participate in physical activities. 

The Khalili Center Aftercare Program

Our aftercare program ensures that you are not alone in your recovery. Our comprehensive patient care service provides you all the support from our team of experts. The aftercare program consists of regular follow-up appointments, monthly walks with the doctors, consultations with our dietitian, and counsel sessions with our psychologist. 

We believe that patients benefit from our multidisciplinary approach that provides patients careful planning and consideration for specific needs, expectations, and goals. We also host support groups and provide plenty of opportunities for patients to share their life experiences. Our support group is a good source of moral support, education, and encouragement. It also allows our patients to build new relationships.

FAQs

What are the Types of Colorectal Surgeries?

The type of colorectal surgery you will have will depend on the bowel condition or location of the disease in the colon. 

These are the types of colon surgeries that can help treat bowel disease and its symptoms.

  • Hemicolectomy – This procedure removes a part of the colon. Removing the right side is called a right hemicolectomy. Removing the left side is called a left hemicolectomy. 
  • Colectomy – This procedure removes the colon from the body. If the patient has colon cancer, affected nearby lymph nodes will also be removed. Partial colon removal is called a partial colectomy. The removal of the entire colon is called total colectomy
  • Ostomy – When the surgery requires removing the ends of the colon, the surgeon must perform an ostomy. Ostomy is creating an opening (stoma) from the large intestine to the abdominal wall and outside of the body. 
  • Ileostomy – This procedure creates an opening (stoma) from the small intestine to the abdominal wall to allow the stool to exit from the body
  • Proctocolectomy – This procedure removes the colon and the rectum.
How Long is the Recovery?

After laparoscopic colon resection or laparoscopic colectomy, the hospital stay is around three to seven days. The total recovery time can take approximately two weeks(6)For traditional surgeries like open colectomies or open resections, the hospital stay can take about one week. Meanwhile, the total recovery period can take around six weeks.

You will be required to take a full-liquid diet, followed by a soft-food diet for two to eight weeks. The timing will depend on how fast you recover and the type of surgery that was performed.

Laparoscopic techniques for colon surgeries minimize the need for pain medication compared to open surgeries(7). Small incisions are easier to maintain, and you will experience less pain compared to open surgeriesYou can discuss recovery guidelines with the surgeon and staff from our aftercare program.

Advantages of laparoscopic surgical procedure(8):

  • Less postoperative pain
  • Shorter hospital stay.
  • Faster return to a solid food diet
  • Quicker return of bowel function and bowel movement
  • Quicker return to regular activity
  • Improved cosmetic results 
What are the Risks and Side Effects of Colon Resection?

Like any other surgery, colon resection, rectal surgery, and colectomy may present some risks. It is crucial to recognize surgery complications, such as swelling, fever, rectal bleeding, nausea, vomiting, pus draining, and inability to eat or drink. 

The mortality rate of colon resection may be associated with the existing health problems of the patient. However, it is observed that laparoscopic surgery techniques reduce the mortality rate of colon resection(9).

Patients must understand that surgeons need to make on-the-spot decisions once the procedure starts. Laparoscopic colon surgeries have a 14.3% conversion rate to open surgeries. The conversion can be due to scar tissues from a previous operation, inflammation, or abdominal abscess(10)

The surgeon can usually determine the severity of adhesion through the laparoscope (video camera) inserted through the incision site.

Complications of laparoscopic colon resection include(11):

  • Bleeding
  • Wound infection
  • Reaction to general anesthesia
  • A leak at the resection site (anastomotic leak)
  • Injury to nearby organs such as the small intestine, ureter, or bladder
  • Blood clots to the lungs
  • Fecal incontinence (bowel obstruction)
  • Death (2% to 6%)(12)
Does Insurance Cover Colon Resection?

We understand the urgency of your condition. Therefore we provide flexible payment plans through Prosper Healthcare Lending. Patients will be given options and alternative solutions to pay for their procedure through a financing program that works for them. 

The Khalili Center is also affiliated with several insurance groups. Your insurance provider will assess if the colon resection procedure is eligible for coverage.

How Do I Book an Appointment?

Our customer care team will assist with general inquiries, appointment requests, and additional information. Click here to book your appointment. 

You may also visit us at The Khalili Center, located at 9033 Wilshire Blvd. #200 Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California 90211. Due to the COVID-19 situation, the Khalili Center now facilitates virtual visits.

References

  1. Annals of Laparoscopic Colectomy and Endoscopic Surgery. Retrieved from http://ales.amegroups.com/article/view/4989/html
  2. The Mayo Clinic. Colectomy Overview. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/colectomy/about/pac-20384631
  3. Lewis, J., Kinross, J. Mechanical bowel preparation for elective colorectal surgery. Tech Coloproctol 23, 783–785 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10151-019-02061-3
  4. Emily K. Wright, Michael A. Kamm, Peter De Cruz, Amy L. Hamilton, Kathryn J. Ritchie, Efrosinia O. Krejany, Alexandra Gorelik, Danny Liew, Lani Prideaux, Ian C. Lawrance, Jane M. Andrews, Peter A. Bampton, Miles P. Sparrow, Timothy H. Florin, Peter R. Gibson, Henry Debinski, Richard B. Gearry, Finlay A. Macrae, Rupert W. Leong, Ian Kronborg, Graeme Radford-Smith, Warwick Selby, Michael J. Johnston, Rodney Woods, P. Ross Elliott, Sally J. Bell, Steven J. Brown, William R. Connell, Paul V. Desmond, Effect of Intestinal Resection on Quality of Life in Crohn’s Disease, Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis, Volume 9, Issue 6, June 2015, Pages 452–462, https://doi.org/10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjv058
  5. Andreoni, B., Chiappa, A., Bertani, E., Bellomi, M., Orecchia, R., Zampino, M., Fazio, N., Venturino, M., Orsi, F., Sonzogni, A., Pace, U., & Monfardini, L. (2007). Surgical outcomes for colon and rectal cancer over a decade: results from a consecutive monocentric experience in 902 unselected patients. World journal of surgical oncology, 5, 73. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7819-5-73
  6. Raymond, T. M., Dastur, J. K., Khot, U. P., & Parker, M. C. (2008). Hospital stay and return to full activity following laparoscopic colorectal surgery. JSLS : Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, 12(2), 143–149.
  7. Morneau, M., Boulanger, J., Charlebois, P., Latulippe, J. F., Lougnarath, R., Thibault, C., Gervais, N., & Comité de l’Évolution des Pratiques en Oncologie (2013). Laparoscopic versus open surgery for the treatment of colorectal cancer: a literature review and recommendations from the Comité de l’évolution des pratiques en oncologie. Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie, 56(5), 297–310. https://doi.org/10.1503/cjs.005512
  8. Morneau, M., Boulanger, J., Charlebois, P., Latulippe, J. F., Lougnarath, R., Thibault, C., Gervais, N., & Comité de l’Évolution des Pratiques en Oncologie (2013). Laparoscopic versus open surgery for the treatment of colorectal cancer: a literature review and recommendations from the Comité de l’évolution des pratiques en oncologie. Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie, 56(5), 297–310. https://doi.org/10.1503/cjs.005512
  9. Cone MM, Herzig DO, Diggs BS, et al. Dramatic Decreases in Mortality From Laparoscopic Colon Resections Based on Data From the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Arch Surg. 2011;146(5):594–599. doi:10.1001/archsurg.2011.79
  10. Moghadamyeghaneh, Z., Masoomi, H., Mills, S. D., Carmichael, J. C., Pigazzi, A., Nguyen, N. T., & Stamos, M. J. (2014). Outcomes of conversion of laparoscopic colorectal surgery to open surgery. JSLS : Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, 18(4), e2014.00230. https://doi.org/10.4293/JSLS.2014.00230
  11. Kirchhoff, P., Clavien, P. A., & Hahnloser, D. (2010). Complications in colorectal surgery: risk factors and preventive strategies. Patient safety in surgery, 4(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/1754-9493-4-5
  12. Cone MM, Herzig DO, Diggs BS, et al. Dramatic Decreases in Mortality From Laparoscopic Colon Resections Based on Data From the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Arch Surg. 2011;146(5):594–599. doi:10.1001/archsurg.2011.79

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Weight loss surgery is a tool to reset your life.

Our comprehensive program is everything you need to set you up for your new life and to keep the weight off. All you have to to find out if we’re right for you is to book an appointment.