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Sphincter Saving Surgery in India

Sphincter Saving Surgery in India enables rectal cancer treatment without a permanent stoma by preserving anal sphincter muscles, allowing normal bowel control, improved quality of life, and effective long-term cancer outcomes.

Dr. Vinay Samuel Gaikwad – Best Sphincter Saving Surgeon in India

  • Senior Surgical Oncologist with more than twenty years of experience in rectal cancer surgery
  • Specialised training in the Tata Memorial Hospital for gastrointestinal cancers
  • International experience at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York
  • Experience in laparoscopic and robotic sphincter-sparing surgery for rectal cancer
  • Tumour board-based treatment plan
  • Emphasis on the recovery of safety and long-term bowel function

Dr. Vinay Samuel Gaikwad is known as the Best Sphincter Saving Surgeon in India for his expertise in advanced rectal cancer surgery with natural bowel control.

His experience in low rectal cancers enables him to remove the tumour accurately with preservation of the anal sphincter muscles. Every patient gets a personalised treatment plan after imaging, pathology, and tumour board discussion. His focus is on oncological safety, functional recovery, and rapid postoperative recovery.

Patients seek him for empathetic care, proper advice, and long-term quality of life without a permanent stoma and with dignity for rectal cancer patients, always through expert surgery.

Dr Vinay Samuel Gaikwad

20+

Years of Experience

5000+

Sphincter Saving Surgeries

10000+

Patients Treated

What is Sphincter Saving Surgery?

Sphincter-saving surgery is a rectal cancer operation designed to remove the tumour while preserving the anal sphincter muscles which control bowel movements. The surgical team performs bowel reconstruction to the anus after removing the tumour instead of using a permanent colostomy.

The procedure follows strict cancer clearance principles, which require total mesorectal excision and lymph node removal. Modern techniques which include laparoscopic and robotic surgery methods, enable surgical procedures to achieve better accuracy results while safeguarding nerve functions.

This method enables patients to achieve natural stool passage after they recover from surgery while they maintain bowel control and their quality of life remains intact and their cancer treatment remains safe. The selection process for patients determines which cases are suitable for treatment and what results will occur.

Sphincter Saving Surgery

Which Cancers Require Sphincter-Saving Surgery?

  • Low rectal cancers that are close to the anal canal but without invasion of the sphincter muscles
  • Mid-rectal cancers that can be completely excised with a safe margin
  • Early rectal cancers that are found as a result of screening or imaging studies
  • Cancers that have responded well to preoperative chemoradiation therapy
  • Cancers that have not spread to the liver, lungs or bones
  • Selected cancers of the sigmoid colon that are close to the rectal junction
  • Cancers that recur in the pelvis after previous treatment
  • Patients who can undergo organ-preserving surgery for rectal cancer
  • Patients who have been assessed for safety by the tumour board
  • Patients who are fit for major abdominal surgery and recovery

Types of Sphincter Preserving Procedures

  • Low anterior resection with colorectal or coloanal anastomosis
  • Intersphincteric resection for very low rectal tumours
  • Transanal total mesorectal excision for selected early cancers
  • Laparoscopic sphincter-preserving rectal cancer surgery technique
  • Robotic-assisted sphincter-saving surgical procedures
  • Local excision for carefully selected superficial tumours
  • Combined abdominal and transanal surgical approaches
  • Temporary diverting ileostomy creation and later reversal
  • Nerve-sparing dissection to protect continence function
  • Precision surgery using modern stapling devices
Types of Sphincter Preserving Procedures

Benefits of Sphincter Saving Surgery

Sphincter-sparing surgery offers huge benefits to patients in terms of quality of life by enabling them to defecate naturally without the need for a stoma. The preservation of the sphincter muscles helps maintain the patient’s bowel continence and body image.

The latest surgical methods allow for precise tumour excision with the preservation of nerves and tissues. The patient will also experience less psychological trauma than in permanent colostomy surgery.

The recovery period is also shorter with an earlier return to normal life. When done by an expert surgeon, this approach offers effective cancer control with the preservation of function.

Sphincter Saving Surgery Candidate

Who is Eligible for Sphincter Preservation?

  • Patients with early or mid-stage rectal cancer without sphincter invasion
  • Individuals whose tumours can be removed with clear surgical margins
  • People with good anal sphincter function before surgery
  • Patients who are suitable for major surgical procedures and general anesthesia
  • Tumours located at a sufficient distance from the anal opening enable safe anastomosis
  • The selected patients showed positive outcomes after their chemoradiation therapy
  • The multidisciplinary tumour board reviewed cases to assess their safety
  • People who are determined to undergo both rehabilitation and bowel training sessions

Step-by-Step Surgical Approach

  • The patient undergoes general anaesthesia before his rectal cancer operation begins.
  • The surgical team establishes small abdominal incisions or open access points to see the tumour.
  • The surgical team performs a precise dissection to remove the rectum together with its adjacent mesorectal tissue.
  • The surgical team retains the anal sphincter muscles while they remove the tumour.
  • Surgeons operate to extract the infected bowel portion while maintaining secure cancer-free boundaries.
  • The surgical team performs a secure connection between the healthy bowel section and the anal canal.
  • The medical team can establish a temporary protective stoma when it becomes necessary.
  • The surgical team inspects the area before they proceed to close the incision.
Sphincter Saving Surgical Procedure
Risks & Complications of Sphincter Saving Surgery

Risks & Complications

  • Risk of bleeding or infection following a complex rectal cancer surgery procedure
  • Anastomotic leakage can lead to pelvic abscess and sepsis, at times post-operatively
  • Temporary bowel frequency, urgency or incontinence during the early recovery phase
  • Urinary or sexual dysfunction due to pelvic nerve irritation following surgery
  • Stricture formation at anastomosis, resulting in obstructive bowel symptoms in patients
  • Delayed wound healing or seroma formation, requiring drainage with caution
  • Risk of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism following major surgery
  • Need for a temporary stoma in case of inadequate healing following surgery

Recovery After Sphincter-Saving Surgery

The initial walking program that patients follow starts after their surgery as a method to enhance their blood flow and lung capacity. The patient starts with liquid diets, which progress to soft food intake according to their bowel recovery process. The medical staff uses pain medications to manage discomfort while smaller injuries show normal progress toward healing.

The combination of pelvic floor exercises with bowel training creates a path that leads to successful continence restoration throughout the recovery period. The duration of hospital stays ranges from five to seven days, according to how well patients improve. Medical staff conduct follow-up appointments to assess both wound recovery progress and cancer treatment results. Emotional support, together with nutritional guidance,e provides help during the adjustment period, od which improves patients' long-term well-being.

Why Choose Dr. Vinay Samuel Gaikwad for Sphincter-Saving Surgery in India?

Dr Vinay Samuel Gaikwad is relied upon for the Sphincter Saving Surgery in India with utmost care and precision. His vast experience in rectal cancer surgery enables him to remove the tumour safely without impairing the function of the anal sphincter.

Every patient is carefully evaluated before surgery and his training at top cancer centres ensures that he follows the latest principles of cancer surgery and nerve-sparing surgery.

Patients rely on him for their emotional support, guidance, and dedication to their long-term recovery without a stoma after rectal cancer surgery.

  • Over twenty years of experience in advanced rectal cancer surgery
  • He received his training at Tata Memorial Hospital and various international cancer centres
  • He possesses specialised knowledge about laparoscopic and robotic sphincter-preserving surgical techniques
  • The medical team uses multidisciplinary tumour board meetings to create treatment plans for each patient
  • The medical team focuses on two goals which are to preserve continence and to enhance the postoperative quality of life
  • The medical team establishes open communication channels while creating customised treatment plans for every patient

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Sphincter Saving Surgery FAQ Image

FAQs

The procedure of sphincter-saving surgery enables surgeons to extract rectal cancer tumors while maintaining the patient's anal sphincter muscles. The procedure establishes bowel continuity by connecting the intestine to the rectum which enables patients to experience normal bowel functions after they complete their rehabilitation process and receive proper cancer treatment while following standard nerve protection methods.

Sphincter preservation exists as an option for certain rectal cancer patients while it remains unavailable for others. The determination process requires assessment of tumor position together with its dimensions and progression and its impact on sphincter muscle functions. Surgical evaluation shows that patients with extremely low tumors who invade sphincter muscles must undergo permanent stoma procedures to achieve safe cancer removal and disease management.

Laparoscopic sphincter-saving surgery maintains its safety status when conducted by skilled surgeons who specialize in colorectal cancer operations. The method offers superior visual field access along with decreased blood loss and quicker recovery time in comparison to traditional surgical methods. The combination of thorough patient evaluation and specialized surgical abilities enables the removal of cancer while safeguarding both bowel control and pelvic nerve functions for extended periods.

Generally, a permanent stoma is not required following sphincter-saving surgery. However, a temporary protective stoma may be necessary to facilitate the healing of the bowel anastomosis. The stoma can be reversed once the patient has recovered. The surgeon will discuss the stoma in relation to the tumour site and the feasibility.

The success rate of sphincter-saving surgery is based on the tumour stage, response to treatment, and removal of cancer. Patients with early-stage rectal cancer have a greater success rate with good bowel control. Sphincter-saving surgery performed by experienced surgeons has similar cancer outcomes to conventional surgery, with the preservation of continence and quality of life.

Bowel function can be altered temporarily following sphincter-saving surgery. Patients may experience increased frequency or urgency of bowel movements. However, with time, pelvic floor exercises, bowel management, and medications can restore bowel control. Most patients can eventually experience acceptable bowel function and live a normal life following rehabilitation.

TME is an abbreviation for Total Mesorectal Excision. TME is a surgical procedure employed in rectal cancer. This procedure involves the removal of the rectum and the fatty tissue surrounding it, which contains lymph nodes. This technique helps in the prevention of recurrence and improves survival rates by removing cancer completely and maintaining pelvic nerves.

The recovery period after sphincter-saving surgery is several weeks. The hospital stay is five to seven days. Light activities are started in two weeks, and complete recovery takes six to eight weeks. Bowel training and follow-up visits help in the long-term recovery of patients.

Yes, sphincter preservation is possible after chemoradiation therapy. The reduction in size of the tumor due to preoperative therapy helps in the removal of the tumor without damaging the sphincter muscles. Re-evaluation of the patient through scans and examination helps in determining the possibility of surgical intervention. Multidisciplinary planning helps in the management of cancer while providing the best chance of avoiding permanent scars.

Dr Vinay Samuel Gaikwad offers extensive experience in rectal cancer surgery with advanced training in India and abroad. He specialises in sphincter-preserving techniques using laparoscopic and robotic methods. Patients trust him for ethical care, precise surgery, and commitment to long-term bowel function and dignity.

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