Colorectal Surgery
We care for people requiring bowel and pelvic surgical procedures.
What we do
The Colorectal Unit is one of the largest tertiary referral colorectal surgical units in South Australia, performing approximately 300 major colorectal (bowel) surgical procedures and 600 colonoscopic procedures per year.
We provide the state pelvic exenteration service for advanced pelvic malignancy. We work closely with the Gastroenterology department to provide comprehensive inflammatory bowel disease services. In addition to clinical services, we have an active research program.
Services include:
- major open and laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery
- advanced pelvic malignancy surgery
- inflammatory bowel disease surgery
- interventional colonoscopy
- pelvic floor surgery
- trans-anal endoscopic microsurgery.
Robotic surgery is offered in highly selected cases, utilising the new DaVinci Xi robot. We support pelvic floor and continence surgery, with a full anorectal physiology service and a dedicated continence clinic.
Where to find us
Outpatient Clinic, Level 3 (ground floor), Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Check appointment information and screens on arrival at the RAH, for the specific location.
Who we are
Consultants
- Dr Mark Lewis – Head of Unit
- Associate Professor Tarik Sammour – Head of Research
- Dr Michelle Thomas
- Associate Professor Ryash Vather
- Dr Matthew Lawrence
- Dr Jean Wong
This page was last updated 13 June 2025.
You need a referral from a GP or medical practitioner to access this service.
Once your referral has been received it will be triaged according to clinical urgency.
If your referral is accepted, you will either:
- receive a letter, phone call or text message confirming your appointment time, date and location
- receive a letter confirming you have been waitlisted for an appointment.
If the referral is declined, your GP or referring medical practitioner will be notified.
Outpatient services
Find out information about specialist outpatient appointments, how to be referred, plus information when attending an outpatient clinic.
Your outpatient appointment
Contact us to:
- change your appointment time
- cancel your appointment
- find out triage status
- general outpatient enquiries.
If you need to cancel or change your appointment time, let us know as soon as possible.
Preparing for surgery
The healthier you are going into surgery, the stronger you will be coming out. Find tips and resources to help you get ready for surgery.
This page was last updated 13 June 2025.
We accept GP and specialist referrals to this service.
eReferrals are preferred.
Use the Clinical Prioritisation Criteria (CPC) as a referral guide.
To ensure timely triage, include all demographic and clinical details.
The service triages referrals according to clinical urgency.
Urgent and serious referrals
If you are concerned about the appointment being delayed or if the patient's condition is deteriorating, contact the registrar to discuss.
Registrars are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Patients requiring immediate assessment should be sent directly to the Emergency Department.
Discharge guidelines
Patients whose medical condition has stabilised or resolved, and where no further appointment has been made, will be formally discharged.
If medical assessment is required again, a new referral should be made explaining the reason.
This page was last updated 13 June 2025.
Research is an important part of the unit and has recently undergone significant expansion.
Details about current research activity can be viewed here: www.colorectalresearch.org
This page was last updated 13 June 2025.
This page was last updated 13 June 2025.