Referral Information and Resources for Physicians

Our surgeons are highly skilled in minimally invasive surgical techniques, including robotic surgery and trans-anal approaches. In particular, we are national leaders in single incision or single port surgery, a laparoscopic technique that requires only one small umbilical incision, resulting in less blood loss, shorter recovery times and outstanding cosmesis. Very few surgeons outside of University Hospitals have developed the technical expertise necessary to give their patients the benefit of this approach.

For highly complex surgeries, including those to treat recurrent colorectal cancers, enterocutaneous fistulas (ECF) and surgical complications, the surgeons at the UH Center for Reoperative Surgery track patients from across the country and the world. Their expertise in reoperative techniques has made UH a national referral center for these complex cases. In addition, UH is one of the only centers in the country to offer continent ileostomy procedures which eliminate the need for a conventional stoma. Our reputation for surgical excellence has made us one of the highest volume centers in the country for these complex conditions.

Multidisciplinary Care for Colorectal Cancer and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

When it comes to treating patients with colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease, University Hospitals Digestive Health Institute physicians and colorectal surgeons take a collaborative approach to care. Successful treatment of these disorders requires complex decision making and a multidisciplinary approach to care in order to achieve the best outcomes and to restore the patient’s quality of life. The Department collaborates across disciplines to determine the best approach to care for each and every patient.

The collaborative approach is especially important when treating colorectal cancer. The University Hospitals Colorectal Cancer Team holds weekly multidisciplinary group meetings to help ensure each patient receives the best treatment possible for their disease. Colorectal surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and gastroenterologists review each case in detail and craft an individualized treatment plan that considers the unique aspects of the patient’s disease, their comorbidities, and their social situation in order to provide high quality care that is both cutting-edge and, with the vast network of UH facilities in the region, as convenient as possible.

For the most complex cases, UH Cleveland Medical Center Division of Colorectal Surgery is located on the same campus as UH Seidman Cancer Center, which is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s best hospitals for the treatment of cancer. This proximity provides surgeons and their patients with immediate access to IMRT, MR planning, intraoperative radiation, proton therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and advanced clinical trials.

Training the Next Generation of Colorectal Surgeons

The surgeons at the UH Division of Colorectal Surgery are teaching faculty of colorectal surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. In collaboration with the CWRU School of Medicine, UH also provides residency and fellowship training opportunities for physicians interested in furthering their careers in the field of colorectal surgery.