The Colon & Rectal Clinic of Ft. Lauderdale

CRC Ft. Lauderdale believes in the power of knowledge.   We offer the most current information on colon disease and minimally invasive procedures.

What to Ask

The decision to have surgery for colon disease can often be stressful. Patients interested in MIP for colon disease should find a surgeon who is experienced in MIP for colon disease. When meeting with the surgeon, the patient should bring a friend or family member to take part in the discussion with the surgeon, to help take notes, and to ask questions.

Patients can use the list of questions below in talking with the surgeon about which surgery option is best and about whether he or she is qualified to perform MIP:

  1. Do you perform minimally invasive or laparoscopic colon surgery?

  2. Are you board-certified? Which board? Which state?

    (Surgeons should be certified by a national surgical board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties.)

  3. How many colon cases do you treat annually?

    (The Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) recommends prerequisite experience should include performing at least 20 laparoscopic colorectal resections for benign colon disease or metastatic colon cancer before using the technique to treat curable cancer.)

  4. Have you received advanced training in minimally invasive surgical techniques?

  5. How many minimally invasive colon disease surgeries have you performed overall?

  6. What have you seen in terms of patient outcomes with this procedure?

  7. Who assists you with this surgery (residents, surgical physician assistants, surgeons)?

  8. What is the most common complication you have encountered with this procedure?

  9. Am I a candidate for a minimally invasive colon procedure?

  10. What are the benefits of minimally invasive colon surgery?

  11. What are the risks associated with this procedure?

  12. What will my recovery time be like following this procedure?