New Technology for Colon Cancer Patients

More than 110-thousand people will be diagnosed with colon cancer this year, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U-S.

Traditionally, the treatment plan includes surgery, staples and a slow recovery. Now doctors are using a powerful tool that could make the healing process faster and safer.  It's stronger than steel and was once used to build russian submarines. now the material called nitinol (night-ih-nawl) is helping cancer patients fight their own battles. Treatment typically involves stapling the colon back together after removing the tumor, but in 12 to 20-percent of lower colon operations, the sharp staples can lead to leaks, bleeding and infections. Laproscopic surgeon Dr. Daniel Marcus says, "the staples that are used to connect the bowel especially very low in the pelvis sometimes can cause microperforations or very small holes."

Doctor Marcus uses this metal ring instead of staples. using an applicator, he positions the ring in the colon. Gradually over the next two weeks, the nitinol springs pull the two parts together. Then the ring passes through the body. Doctors used the ring in more than one-thousand surgeries. Colon leak rates dropped below two-percent, and compared to staples, patients get their G-I function back sooner -- meaning hospital stays are cut by one to two days.  The ring can be used for other G-I conditions like inflammatory bowel disease. It's being used in about 60 hospitals across the country.