Laparoscopic colectomy left few scars

Ryan Solum, 26, still can’t believe that Dr. David Sheldon operated and removed his entire colon through the few small incisions in his abdomen.

“I was amazed they could do such a major surgery laparoscopically,” he said in a telephone interview.

His colon was removed as a preventive measure because of his high risk of developing colon cancer.

After the procedure on April 15, Solum said he was up walking the next day and out of the hospital on Easter Sunday. A week later, he was well enough to serve as best man in a wedding in Texas.

His wife, Amy, was a bridesmaid.

“They were the two people we met through, so it was really special to us,” he said.

Born and raised in Kalispell, Solum lost his 50-year-old father, Ken, to colon cancer six years ago so he began screening colonoscopies at 22. His polyps were discovered in January by a gastroenterologist during a colonoscopy in Dallas.

“He said there were multiple polyps but the report was not detailed enough,” Solum said. “It was kind of vague.”

His mother, an RN and manager of Cardiovascular Services at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, urged him to get a second evaluation here. Solum, who moved to Texas to work in the financial services industry, heeded her advice and flew with Amy to Kalispell.

He had another screening with Dr. Robert Yacavone at Kalispell Gastroenterology, who documented his polyposis or multiple polyps. He and his wife met with Sheldon on April 7.

“We went over what my options were,”  Solum said. “I could do colonoscopies every year or twice a year but that was not a good option. He explained the surgery — a total colectomy.”

The procedure removes the colon (large intestine) then connects the small intestine to the rectum. Solum would retain bowel control while significantly reducing his high colon cancer risk.

He and Amy were thrilled that Sheldon could schedule the procedure a week later. They decided against surgery in one of the many top medical centers in Dallas.

“We thought the personal care would be greater in Kalispell,” he said.

Following the surgery, the pathologist documented 65 large polyps in Solum’s colon. He was glad he selected the option recommended by Sheldon.

“Every doctor I’ve talked to since has said this was definitely the right thing to do,” he said.

He recently joined a study with Dr. Richard Boland, a top colorectal cancer researcher at Baylor University. Solum said Boland has found a way to study DNA strands in a million different ways in a search for a hereditary link in colon cancer.

“This is brand-new technology,” he said.

Still recovering in Dallas, Solum said he has normal bowel function and has returned to working out at the gym on a stationary bicycle. He has two 1/2- to 3/4-inch scars and one 3-inch scar where the colon was removed.

 His expectation of personal care at Kalispell Regional Medical Center was fulfilled.

“I was really pleased with Dr. Sheldon. I was in the hospital 11 days and he came in every day.”

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com .