Overview
A modern operation for a common problem.
Robotic colon surgery treats most of what used to require a long open operation. The diseased segment of the colon is removed through small port incisions, and the healthy ends are reconnected — usually in a way that lets you return to normal eating and bowel function within days. The operation is performed using the da Vinci platform, which gives a stable 3D view of the pelvis and abdomen and lets the surgeon work in narrow spaces with wristed instruments.
We use robotic colectomy as the default for most cancer cases (right hemicolectomy, sigmoid colectomy, low anterior resection), elective diverticulitis cases, and large polyps that can't be removed at colonoscopy. Open surgery is reserved for emergencies with severe contamination or for patients with anatomy that makes minimally invasive surgery unsafe. The result — segment of colon removed and reconnected with clean margins — is the same in both approaches.
Who is a candidate?
Most adults with a surgical condition of the colon are candidates for robotic resection. We use the same minimally invasive approach for cancer and benign disease, with appropriate technique adjustments for each. Patients with prior open abdominal surgery may have adhesions that make laparoscopic or robotic surgery technically harder, but this is rarely a barrier. Emergency cases — perforation, complete obstruction, severe sepsis — usually go to open surgery in our hands because that approach is faster and safer when speed matters.
How we perform it
Under general anesthesia, four to five small port incisions are placed. The diseased segment of the colon is dissected with attention to its blood supply and (in cancer cases) the surrounding lymph nodes. The segment is removed through a small extraction incision (about 5 cm). The healthy ends are reconnected — often robotically inside the abdomen, sometimes through the extraction incision. The whole operation takes 2–4 hours depending on segment and difficulty.
Recovery
We use an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol: pre-operative carbohydrate drinks, minimal IV fluids, multimodal non-opioid pain control, early ambulation the same day, early diet advancement. Most patients eat solid food on day one, pass gas by day two, and go home within 2–4 days. At home, light activity is fine immediately; we ask patients to avoid heavy lifting for two weeks. Most patients are back to desk work within 1–2 weeks.
Why Florida Surgical
Colon surgery is one of the operations where modern minimally invasive technique most clearly improves the patient experience — less pain, faster recovery of bowel function, shorter hospital stays — without compromising cancer outcomes. Dr. Shaw and Dr. Decio both perform robotic colon work routinely. For colon cancer cases, we coordinate with medical oncology and gastroenterology so that systemic therapy and surveillance are integrated from the start.
Frequently asked questions
Will I need a colostomy bag?
For most colon resections, no. The healthy ends of the colon are reconnected and bowel function returns to normal. A temporary or permanent ostomy is required only in select cases — most often very low rectal cancers or emergency operations for perforation.
When will my bowel function return to normal?
Most patients pass gas by day two and have a bowel movement within a week. Stool consistency and frequency may take 4–8 weeks to fully normalize. Loose or more frequent stools are common in the first weeks, especially after right colectomy.
Is robotic colon surgery as good as open for cancer?
Yes — multiple large studies show equivalent oncologic outcomes (margins, lymph node yield, recurrence) with less pain and faster recovery for robotic and laparoscopic colon cancer surgery.
Will I need chemotherapy after colon cancer surgery?
It depends on the stage. Stage I cancers usually don't need chemotherapy. Stage III almost always does. Stage II is a discussion with medical oncology. We coordinate the referral within the first week after surgery.
How do you know you have clean margins?
The removed segment is sent to pathology, which examines the margins under a microscope. We get final margin results within a few days. For colon cancer, a margin of 5 cm or more on each side of the tumor is standard and is essentially always achievable with a planned resection.