The Colorectal Surgical Section of the Inova Fairfax Hospital Department of Surgery is composed of surgeons specially trained in the surgical treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum and anus.
In addition to the five to six years of general surgical training, each surgeon has completed another one to two years of specialized training in colon and rectal surgery. Each surgeon is board certified, or is board eligible. Certification by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery insures that each surgeon has taken and passed rigorous testing and examinations to qualify as an expert in the field of colon and rectal surgery.
More colon surgery is performed at Inova Fairfax Hospital than in any other hospital in Virginia, and thus the surgeons have a vast experience with all surgical aspects of colon diseases. These range from hemorrhoids to colon cancer.
The section was the first in the Northern Virginia area to perform rectal reconstructive procedures for ulcerative colitis. There is significant experience in managing inflammatory bowel disease, both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The section works closely with gastroenterologists, oncologists, radiation therapists and pathologists to treat colon and rectal cancer. The section's survival rates for surgically treated colon and rectal cancer is equal to or better than the national average and sphincter saving procedures are often possible for rectal cancers. Minimally invasive surgery, using laparoscopic and robotic techniques, is also utilized to reduce hospital stays and facilitate earlier return to work.
The surgeons are also experts in diagnosing and treating anorectal (proctology) conditions such as hemorrhoids, fissures, fistulas and abscesses. The section works closely with the urogynecology section to surgically treat pelvic floor disorders such as fecal incontinence and rectal prolapse. Ancillary support with expert radiology, anesthesiology and critical care medicine insures the maximal support for the sickest of patients. Our surgeons' dedication to surgical teaching insures that the most up to date surgical procedures and techniques are practiced. With more than 70 years of collective experience in the field of colon and rectal surgery, every aspect of the surgical treatment of colon, rectal and anal disease is provided by the member physicians.