Dr. Abigail Christiansen, MD is a surgeon in Canton, OH specializing in surgery. Dr. Abigail Christiansen, MD is affiliated with Cleveland Clinic, Mercy Hospital Medical Office Building and MERCY PROFESSIONAL CARE, LLC.
1330 Mercy Drive Nw
Canton, OH 44708
1 Akron General Avenue
Akron, OH 44307
Colectomy (Colon Resection)
Colectomy is surgery to remove all or part of the colon, or the longest part of the large intestine. The colon may be affected by diseases such as cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. In a colectomy, all or part of the colon that is infected, blocked, or cancerous is removed.
A colectomy may be performed by laparoscopic or open surgery. A laparoscopic colectomy requires several small cuts on the abdomen, and uses a thin tube with a camera, called a laparoscope. Laparoscopic colectomies are less invasive than open procedures. For some individuals, a laparoscopic colectomy may not be possible, and instead an open colectomy is performed. In an open colectomy, a large incision is made on the abdomen. Open colectomies typically require longer recovery periods.
After the incisions are made, a portion of the colon is removed, and the remaining ends of the colon are attached to each other in a procedure called anastomosis. Waste can continue to travel through the body as normal. However, in some situations, it may be necessary for the end of the colon to be attached to an opening in the abdomen, called a stoma. This procedure is called an ostomy. Types of ostomies include:
An ostomy bag will be attached to the skin to collect waste. If the entire colon is removed, either an ileostomy is performed, or the small intestine is connected to the anus and waste may pass through as normal.
Stomas may be permanent or temporary. If the stoma is temporary, the ends of the colon will be rejoined in a later procedure. Temporary stomas are generally used to allow time for the colon to heal following surgery.
A colectomy may take between one and four hours. Following the procedure, patients will need to consume a liquid and low fiber diet before gradually returning to their normal diet. Patients will need to stay in the hospital for three to seven days for monitoring. Full recovery and return to normal activity may take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is the use of a special tool called a colonoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end) to examine the inside of the colon and rectum. The tube is typically inserted anally, and it allows the physician to examine the large intestine from the inside. It may be done at any time to diagnose bowel problems, but routine colonoscopies are advised after the age of 50 to screen for colon cancer.
A colonoscopy may be performed to diagnose:
Patients may be asked to drink only liquids in the days before a colonoscopy, or they may be given an enema to remove residual fecal matter. Before the exam, patients are given medication to help them relax, and then lay on their side on a table. The scope is inserted into the anus and gently moved all the way through the large intestine. Air may be pumped into the intestine to improve the view for the physician. Any polyps that are found will be removed. Then the colonoscope will be withdrawn. A colonoscopy is not usually painful, but patients may feel some bloating or have some cramps right afterward. If patients have polyps removed, they might experience a small amount of bleeding. Any side effects should go away within a few hours.
Robotic Surgery
Robotic surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery, using a tiny opening to get inside the body instead of making a large cut. It uses small tools attached to a thin robotic arm, which is controlled by the surgeon. Robotic surgery may be referred to by the specific kind of robot that is used. The most advanced robot currently in use is called the da Vinci, and surgery using it is sometimes called da Vinci surgery.
There are many benefits to robotic surgery, both for the patient and the surgeon. Robotic surgery allows for more precise movements and increased control during very delicate surgical procedures. This makes performing surgery accurately much easier for surgeons and reduces fatigue. The smaller 'hand' of the robot can enter the body via a much smaller opening, which reduces the risk of infection and scarring and leads to a faster recovery. The robotic hands also contain tiny moveable cameras among their tools, giving surgeons a much closer view of the procedure than would be possible with traditional surgery.
She completed residency at Cleveland Clinic. She has a state license in Ohio.
Residency: Cleveland Clinic (2022)
Licensed In: Ohio
Dr. Abigail Christiansen, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Abigail Christiansen, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 8 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Abigail Christiansen, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Canton, OH.
These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Abigail Christiansen, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. |
$2,958
Da Vinci Surgical System $1,958 |
DAVINCI XI $1,000 |
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Teleflex LLC |
$26
QuikClot $26 |
|
Pacira Pharmaceuticals Incorporated |
$12
Exparel $12 |
Travel and Lodging | $1,541 |
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Education | $1,000 |
Food and Beverage | $439 |
Gift | $16 |
Dr. Abigail Christiansen is a specialist in surgery in Canton, OH. Dr. Christiansen's areas of expertise include the following: colon cancer, inguinal hernia, and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. For her residency, Dr. Christiansen trained at Cleveland Clinic. She is affiliated with Cleveland Clinic.