Live Webcast of laproscopic surgery for colon cancer and polyps

Posted by Kate Murphy on January 3rd, 2007

St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth will broadcast a live laproscopic hemicolectomy to remove part of the colon using minimally invasive surgery via the Internet on January 24, 2007.

  • Live Webcast of minimally invasive hemicolectomy
  • St. Mary’s Medical Cancer, Duluth MN
  • Wednesday, January 24, 2007
  • 6:30 PM, CST
  • Colorectal Surgeon:  Melissa Najarian, MD

Thomas Wiig, MD will explain the procedure as Dr. Najarian operates and will also answer email questions.  Internet participants will need a high-speed broadband connection and Real Player installed on their computers.

During the surgery, Dr. Najarian will make an incision about two inches in length, as well as three or four small cuts less than an inch long to insert her instruments.  If this were an open colectomy the incision would be about eight inches long.

She is anxious that patients have a change to see and understand the surgery, which can be used to treat colon cancer or to remove colon polyps.

It will really benefit patients. I don’t think people always understand what’s going on with their insides.

She also wants to use the Webcast to encourage people to have regular screenings for colorectal cancer.  She says,

If everyone had regular screenings, we might not have to do this surgery.

Email reminders of the Webcast are available.

Comments (2): Add a comment

2 Responses to “Live Webcast of laproscopic surgery for colon cancer and polyps”

  1. July 17, 2008 at 10:10 am, Helene Kneubuhler said:

    Can laproscopic surgery be done for small polyps in the ascending colon; I could only have a barium enema here as colonoscopy could only be used on part of the colon due to redundant colon? Thank you

  2. July 18, 2008 at 8:33 am, Kate Murphy said:

    This is a pretty technical question which we at C3 can’t answer, particularly because you have an unusual anatomy.

    Is surgery being suggested to remove your polyps?

    Very small polyps — less than 6 millimeters — may not have to be removed. But that’s a decision you’d need to make after knowing the risks of leaving them in versus risks of surgery.

    Talk over the possibility of laparoscopic surgery with your own surgeon and ask for a referral to a surgeon who does many such laparoscopic operations on the colon.

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