Sometimes, a doctor may suggest that you need surgery due to certain conditions in your intestines. It's normal to feel a little scared and nervous when they tell you, "I need to remove a piece of your intestine." But this is often done to save your life, or to relieve the pain you are experiencing and give you a better life. So today, let's talk about this 'intestinal surgery' or, in medical terms, Bowel Resection , simply and in a way that you can understand.
Why do you really need to have this kind of surgery?
Simply put, a colonoscopy is a procedure that removes a diseased or damaged part of the small intestine, large intestine (colon), or rectum. This can help prevent life-threatening diseases and help your bowel function properly.
There may be several main reasons why the doctor might suggest this surgery.
| Reason for surgery | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Cancer | The part of the colon that contains the cancer cells is removed. The part of the colon that is removed depends on the size and location of the cancer. Nearby lymph nodes may also be removed. |
| Diverticulitis | This is an inflammatory condition of the intestines. If this causes complications such as severe infection or perforation of the intestines, surgery may be required. |
| Intestinal blockage | When the intestine becomes blocked from the inside, food, drink, and fluids cannot pass down. This causes blood flow to that area to stop and the tissue begins to die. This is an emergency. |
| Severe bleeding | If other methods fail to stop the bleeding from the intestine, doctors will decide to remove the bleeding part. |
What are the methods of performing the surgery?
There are three main methods for performing intestinal surgery. The surgeon will choose the method that is most suitable for you based on your medical condition, the location of the diseased area, and the size of the area.
- Open Resection: In this procedure, the surgeon makes a long incision in your abdomen. Then, using standard surgical instruments, the affected section of intestine is removed.
- Laparoscopic Resection: This is the most commonly used method. Two to four small incisions are made in the abdomen, and a small camera-equipped tube (laparoscope) is inserted through one of the incisions. The image from the camera is viewed on a TV screen, and special, small surgical instruments are inserted through the other incisions to remove the section of intestine.
- Robot-assisted Laparoscopic Resection: This is similar to laparoscopic surgery, but here the surgical instruments are mounted on robotic arms. The surgeon performs the surgery by controlling the robotic arms via a computer.
Sometimes, even if a laparoscopic surgery is started, the surgeon may have to switch to open surgery due to a complication that arises during the surgery.
What actually happens during surgery?
This is a major surgery, so you will have to stay in the hospital. On the day of the surgery, you will be given general anesthesia . This means that the surgery will be performed while you are unconscious, pain-free, and in a deep sleep.
During the operation, the surgeon separates the diseased part of the intestine from the surrounding tissue, cuts it out, and then joins the two remaining healthy parts of the intestine together. This is done using small staples or dissolvable sutures.
What is a Colostomy?
In some cases, if there is a suspicion that the area where the two intestines are connected is not healing properly, the surgeon may need to perform a colostomy . This involves bringing the upper end of the intestine to the surface of the skin of the abdomen and connecting it to a bag on the outside. This opening on the skin is called a stoma .
Don't be alarmed when you hear this. Most of the time, this stoma is temporary. After a few months (about 6-12 weeks), when the wounds inside the abdomen have healed, another small operation is performed to remove the stoma and reconnect the two intestines internally.
How do you prepare before surgery?
Before the surgery, you will meet with your surgeon. Your complete medical history will be discussed, along with any medications you are taking. You will also be asked to have a chest X-ray, an ECG, and some blood tests. These will help determine if there are any problems that could affect the surgery.
A few days before the surgery, your doctor will tell you to stop taking certain medications (for example, painkillers like ibuprofen). He will also explain how to prepare for the surgery.
- Colon cleansing: You will need to stop eating solid foods the day before surgery. You can only drink liquids like soup and apple juice. You will also be given a laxative to completely cleanse your colon.
- Antiseptic soap: You may be asked to bathe with an antiseptic liquid soap the night before surgery and the morning of surgery. This can reduce the risk of wound infection after surgery.
What are the risks of this surgery?
Like any surgery, this surgery can have certain risks and complications.
- Infection: The surgical wound can become infected. There is also a possibility of pneumonia or urinary tract infections.
- Damage to surrounding organs: During surgery, other parts of the intestine, the bladder, or blood vessels near the intestine may be damaged.
- Anastomotic Leak: This is a serious complication. If the anastomotic leak does not heal properly, it can leak into the stomach. This can cause bleeding and serious infections. If you experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, or rapid heartbeat, you should call your doctor immediately.
- Hernia: The abdominal wall may be weakened due to surgery, which may lead to a hernia in the future.
- Scar tissue: As the intestine heals, scar tissue can form inside. Over time, this scar tissue can cause the intestine to become blocked again.
How is the recovery time after surgery?
After the surgery, you will need to stay in the hospital for 2 to 4 days. You will be given medication to control the pain. A nurse or doctor will explain to you how to care for your wound. If you have a stoma, they will also show you how to care for it.
After surgery, you can drink liquids at first. You may be able to eat solid foods the next day. However, your doctor may advise you to follow a low-fiber diet for about a month.
Recovery from laparoscopic surgery is faster than from open surgery. There is less pain and the scars are much smaller.
You should be able to resume most normal activities, such as walking and going to work, within 1-2 weeks. However, you should consult your doctor before doing anything more than 4-5 kilos or doing strenuous exercise. It usually takes about 6 weeks to fully recover.
Take-Home Message
- Bowel resection is a common surgery that removes a diseased part of the intestine. There is no need to be afraid of this.
- This surgery can be performed in several ways. Your doctor will decide which method is best for you.
- It is very important to follow the instructions given before surgery (diet, medication, bathing) exactly.
- It takes some time to recover after surgery. During that time, listen to your body and rest.
- If you experience any unusual symptoms after surgery, such as fever, severe stomach pain, or increased heart rate, do not hesitate to inform your doctor immediately.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න