School of Medicine

August 2015 is a milestone for the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana with the opening of the New State of the Art Tertiary Hospital: the University Medical Center New Orleans (UMCNO). UMCNO is one of the most important Tertiary Healthcare Centers in the Southeastern United States. It is an Academic and Research Center whose foundation is rooted on the history of the Charity Hospital, one of the most recognized Academic Teaching Centers in the USA.

Since 2012, the LSU Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery has been dedicated to the treatment of people with benign and malignant diseases of the Colon, Rectum and Anus. In 2018, the LSU Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery developed an ACGME approved Fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery.

The LSU Division of CRS is an integral part of the new Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, which is under the direction of the LSU Department of Gastroenterology at UMCNO. The LSU Division of CRS and the LSU Department of Gastroenterology have developed the IBD Multidisciplinary Team (IBD-MDT) and Conference, for the management of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Louisiana has a large population of people with IBD. The bi-monthly IBD-MDT conference discusses all patients with IBD and recommends a management plan that is high quality and patient centered.

The LSU Division of CRS is an integral part of the Multidisciplinary Oncology Clinic at UMCNO for patients with Colon, Rectal and Anal Cancers. This is a multidisciplinary team, including specialized physicians in Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Pathology, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology for quality management of people with colon, rectal and anal cancers. LSU Division of CRS has a Patient Navigator that assures our patients will receive timely clinic appointments, diagnostic laboratory, radiologic testing and follow-up post discharge.

The LSU Division of CRS has spearheaded the creation of the Multidisciplinary Rectal Cancer Team (RC-MDT) and Tumor Board. The RC-MDT includes Pathologists, Radiologists, Colon Rectal Surgeons, Medical and Radiation Oncologists. The LSU Division of CRS has extensive experience in sphincter sparing surgical approaches for patients with Rectal Cancers, that when indicated, will spare people from a life with a permanent ostomy. However, if an ostomy is required, either on a temporary or permanent basis, University Medical Center has a Certified Ostomy Nurse, who educates and prepares our patients on the management of their ostomy, so they may continue to live an active and productive life.

The LSU Division of CRS works closely with the Division of Female Pelvic Floor Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery in treating of women with Pelvic Floor Disease. Especially posterior compartment diseases: Rectal Prolapse and Fecal Incontinence (FI). The LSU Division of CRS has expertise in the diagnosis and management people with FI. We utilize the latest diagnostic technology including Pelvic Floor MRI and anal manometry, to assist us in formulating a plan for the treatment of FI, which may include biofeedback, sacral nerve stimulation or surgery.

The LSU Division of CRS utilizes state of the art surgical approaches to all major bowel surgery including Laparoscopic, Hand Assisted and Robotic Assisted colon and rectal procedures. The Division of CRS manages the entire spectrum of therapy for patients with benign and malignant diseases of the anus, either in the office or in the outpatient center.

The LSU Division of CRS manages people with the following diseases of the anus, which includes complex anal fistula, (rectovaginal and/or anovaginal fistulas), malignant and pre-malignant diseases of the anus (Squamous Cell Cancer, Paget's disease, Bowens Disease)and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).  The LSU Division of CRS provides comprehensive care of the entire spectrum of benign and malignant diseases of the colon, including constipation, diverticulosis/ complicated diverticulitis, Mega colon/ Mega rectum, volvulus of the colon, enterocutaneous fistula of small and large bowel, the small bowel  colon, rectum and small bowel. In summary, the LSU Division of CRS practices high quality patient center medical and surgical care of patients with disease of the small bowel, colon, rectal and anus.

Colorectal Surgery Fellowship Program