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?32
