Treatment Options
A wide variety of benign and malignant conditions can affect a person's gastrointestinal tract, such as colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum), ulcerative colitis (ulcers in the lower part of the large intestine), Crohn's disease (inflammation of the digestive tract) or diverticular disease (bulges in the lining of the colon) can cause chronic pain, as well as other disabling symptoms.
When medication, lifestyle changes and other non-surgical treatments cannot relieve symptoms, surgery is the accepted treatment for a broad range of conditions. Surgery can be a scary proposition for a patient, no matter how routine the procedure. If surgery is recommended, you want to learn as much as you can about your surgical options and find the physician and hospital that are right for you.
While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci® System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.