Colorectal surgery

Colorectal surgery provides treatment for diseases of the colon, rectum and anus, such as cancer, diverticulitis and inflammatory bowel disease. 

Colorectal surgery at the Mater Hospital

The Mater Hospital has five colorectal surgeons, with a special interest in colorectal cancer. The hospital is one of the national rectal cancer centres. Each year, over 250 colon cancers are diagnosed and treated at the Mater Hospital.

Our colorectal surgery department is closely linked with the department of surgery in the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar. 

Innovative treatments

The colorectal surgery department provides many innovative treatments to patients with cancer as well as patients with various benign (non-cancerous) conditions. Some examples are given below. 

Pseudomyxoma peritonei and HIPEC

The Mater Hospital is the only centre on the island of Ireland offering cytoreductive surgery and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for certain cancers such as appendix tumours, advanced colorectal cancers, and other rare intra-abdominal cancers.  HIPEC is a highly concentrated, heated chemotherapy treatment that is delivered directly to the abdomen during surgery.

Prior to 2013, patients had to travel to the UK for this treatment. The first case was completed in Ireland at the Mater Hospital in June 2013 and since then, over 60 cases have been successfully completed.

TAMIS (Transanal minimally invasive surgery)

Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS or TaTME) provides a less invasive surgical option for patients with early stage cancer. Previously, surgery to remove these tumours required an abdominal incision. Now using innovative approaches, certain early stage cancers or rectal polyps may be removed without a surgical incision. Techniques such as this reduce pain and recovery time for patients. 

Hernias

Our surgeons have a significant interest in surgery for all types of hernias, including inguinal (groin) hernias, complex incisional hernias requiring abdominal wall reconstruction, parastomal hernias, and sports hernias ("Gilmore's Groin"). Both open and laparoscopic ("keyhole") approaches are offered.