Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment

Less pain and faster healing after IBD surgery.

At the Henry Ford Center for IBD, our colorectal surgery group is highly experienced in minimally invasive small bowel surgical techniques to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In fact, 90% of patients having an initial surgery with us benefit from these minimally invasive techniques, which can result in less scarring, fewer complications and faster healing times.

What is minimally invasive bowel surgery?

At one time, colorectal surgery required open-abdomen procedures. Now, more advanced, minimally invasive approaches in small bowel surgery are more common and, when appropriate, include techniques like laparoscopy and robotic surgery. These are advanced procedures that are completed through multiple small incisions (less than one inch) and, in some cases, without any incisions at all.

Benefits of minimally invasive bowel surgery at Henry Ford

Our surgeons try to avoid blood transfusions whenever possible, as they dramatically increase the risk of complications. Minimally invasive surgeries like laparoscopy, which involve only small incisions through which we insert fine operating tools, can result in significantly less bleeding and less need for blood transfusions.

Other benefits of minimally invasive colorectal surgery can include:

• Less pain and scarring
• Lower risk of hernia at the incision site
• Lower risk of infections
• Shorter recovery time
• Quicker discharge from the hospital

Robotic small bowel surgery at Henry Ford Center for IBD

Our surgeons are highly skilled in robotic surgery for IBD. Good candidates for robotic surgery include people with ulcerative colitis who are planning for ileal pouch surgery.

Our surgeons use the robotic approach to precisely create the interior pouch that collects waste and enables patients to maintain normal control of their bowels. This approach often leads to fewer complications and easier recovery.