Dr. Samuel Zeack
Colorectal surgery is an established super specialty in most parts of the world. However, in India, this is yet to be recognized as a separate super specialty. Colorectal surgery has a vast scope and needs dedicated training to treat complex colorectal diseases. There is enough scientific evidence to prove that outcomes for such diseases are improved in the hands of dedicated colorectal surgeons. So far in India, the process of granting it the status of a separate super specialty has been initiated but it needs further efforts to formally do so and also start super specialty courses such as MCh/DNB in the field. In this review, we will give a brief historical background of the specialty of colorectal surgery, the scope of colorectal surgery, the scientific evidence to prove that better patient outcomes are achieved in the hands of dedicated colorectal surgeons and finally the journey of efforts that have been carried so far for recognizing this as a separate super specialty in our country. Colorectal surgery has been rapidly evolving over the last few years. Newer technologies and techniques are increasingly being used and have become part of surgical armamentarium. Indeed, much needs to be explored in the field of coloproctology, as the desire to shed light on grey areas is constantly growing, in parallel with the implementation of innovations into clinical practice. The aim of the present Topical Collection is to serve as a forum for critically addressing how the advent of recent technological developments has impacted the outcomes of colorectal surgery, the way patients are managed perioperatively, postoperative recovery, and patient experience throughout an operation. Manuscripts are invited critically assessing the role of minimally invasive approaches, application of artificial intelligence and big data to decision making, peroperative patient optimization, application of transational research in coloproctology, or comparing the outcomes of different innovative approaches to colorectal diseases.
Patients undergoing colorectal surgery experience a physiologic stress response and are at risk of complications and delayed recovery. Attempts to improve recovery have tended to focus on the intraoperative period and the immediate postoperative period (Enhanced Recovery after Surgery, ERAS, and pathways). ERAS reduced overall morbidity, length of hospital stay, and costs by incorporating multimodal optimization of perioperative care first in colorectal surgery and then also in other fields of surgery.
Keywords
Colorectal surgery; Separate; Super specialty; Surgical treatment
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