Pain and Infection After Transvaginal Colectomy (TVC)

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Females ≥ 18 years of age

2. Diagnosed with one of the following benign or malignant conditions for which they require colonic resection with a specimen that may be removed transvaginally if randomized to that group:

   • Adenomatous polyposis
   • Chronic GI bleeding
   • Chronic obstruction
   • Colon cancer
   • Colonic inertia
   • Diverticular disease
   • Rectal cancer
   • Colorectal Polyps
   • Rectal prolapse
   • Slow transit constipation / colonic inertia

3. Require one of the following elective operations that may be safely performed by current laparoscopic-assisted techniques:

   • Right hemicolectomy
   • Left hemicolectomy
   • Subtotal colectomy
   • Total abdominal colectomy
   • Sigmoid colectomy
   • Rectosigmoid resection
   • Low anterior resection
4. Willingness and ability to comply with the requirements of the study protocol including follow-up
5. Willingness and ability to sign the study specific informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current pregnancy or considering becoming pregnant during the follow-up period or within 6 months of surgery
2. Any anatomical consideration that in the Investigator's opinion would make the traditional laparoscopic or transvaginal approach to resection excessively risky or impossible. Patients with bulky tumors that would require open operations are not candidates for this study.
3. Body Mass Index (BMI) > 35
4. Vaginal stenosis
5. Prior reconstructive surgery of the vagina not including hysterectomy
6. ASA classes 4 and 5
7. Advanced renal insufficiency (estimated creatinine clearance ≤30 mL/min/1.73 m2)
8. Any history of pelvic radiation
9. Anticipated need for an ostomy at the time of operation
10. Patients requiring urgent or emergent surgery
11. Patients with prior or suspected diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis.