How long does resection surgery take

If you have laparoscopic surgery: The surgeon makes 3 to 5 small cuts incisions in your lower belly. A medical device called a laparoscope is inserted through one of the cuts. The scope is a thin, lighted tube with a camera on the end. It lets the surgeon see inside your belly. Other medical instruments are inserted through the other cuts. A cut of about 2 to 3 inches 5 to 7. Your belly is filled with a harmless gas to expand it. This makes it easy for the surgeon to see and work.

The diseased part of your small intestine is located and removed. If you have open surgery: The surgeon makes a cut of 6 to 8 inches In both kinds of surgery, the next steps are: If there is enough healthy small intestine left, the ends are stitched or stapled together. This is called an anastomosis. Most patients have this done. If there is not enough healthy small intestine to reconnect, your surgeon makes an opening called a stoma through the skin of your belly.

The small intestine is attached to the outer wall of your belly. Stool will go through the stoma into a drainage bag outside your body. This is called an ileostomy. The ileostomy may be either short-term or permanent. Small bowel resection usually takes 1 to 4 hours.

Why the Procedure Is Performed Small bowel resection is used to treat: A blockage in the intestine caused by scar tissue or congenital from birth deformities Bleeding, infection, or ulcers caused by inflammation of the small intestine from conditions such as Crohn disease Cancer Carcinoid tumor Injuries to the small intestine Meckel diverticulum a pouch on the wall of the lower part of the intestine that is present at birth Noncancerous benign tumors Precancerous polyps.

Risks Risks for anesthesia and surgery in general are: Reactions to medicines Breathing problems Blood clots, bleeding, infection Risks for this surgery include: Bulging tissue through the incision, called an incisional hernia Damage to nearby organs in the body Diarrhea Problems with your ileostomy Scar tissue that forms in your belly and causes a blockage of your intestines Short bowel syndrome when a large amount of the small intestine needs to be removed , which may lead to problems absorbing important nutrients and vitamins Chronic anemia The ends of your intestines that are sewn together come apart anastomotic leak, which may be life threatening Wound breaking open Wound infection.

Before the Procedure Tell your surgeon or nurse what medicines you are taking, even drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription. Talk with your surgeon or nurse about how surgery will affect: Intimacy and sexuality Pregnancy Sports Work During the 2 weeks before your surgery: You may be asked to stop taking blood thinner drugs. These include aspirin, ibuprofen Advil, Motrin , naproxen Aleve, Naprosyn , and others.

Your nurse may place an intravenous IV line in one of your veins, usually in your arm or hand. A member of the operating room team will help you onto the operating bed and place compression boots on your lower legs. These gently inflate and deflate to help blood flow in your legs. They may also cover them with a bandage. The information in this section will tell you what to expect after your surgery, both during your hospital stay and after you leave the hospital.

A nurse will be keeping track of your body temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. You may be getting oxygen through a thin tube that rests below your nose or a mask that covers your nose and mouth. There are different ways pain medication can be given:. Your healthcare provider will talk with you before choosing the best one s for you.

You may also have 1 or 2 Jackson-Pratt JP drains to remove extra fluid from your abdomen belly. Your healthcare providers will talk with you about what to expect.

Most people stay in the hospital for 2 to 4 days. Your care team will tell you what to expect. Soon after you arrive in your room, your nurse will help you out of bed and into your chair. You can help yourself recover more quickly by doing the following things:.

Read the resource Call! Don't Fall! Your healthcare providers will ask you about your pain often and give you medication as needed. Controlling your pain will help you recover better. Many people find their pain is controlled with over-the-counter medications alone. If you need stronger pain medication in the hospital, one of your healthcare providers will give you a prescription before you leave.

Talk with your healthcare providers about possible side effects and how to taper slowly stop taking your medication. Moving around and walking will help lower your risk for blood clots and pneumonia lung infection.

It will also help you start passing gas and having bowel movements pooping again. Read your recovery pathway to learn about your specific moving and walking goals. Your nurse, physical therapist, or occupational therapist will help you move around, if needed. Read your pathway and talk with your care team for more information. If you have questions about your diet, ask to see a clinical dietitian nutritionist.

This will help keep your incision clean and prevent infections. Before you leave, look at your incisions with one of your healthcare providers. Knowing what they look like will help you notice any changes later. On the day of your discharge, plan to leave the hospital between am and am.

Before you leave, one of your healthcare providers will write your discharge order and prescriptions. One of your healthcare providers will review them with you before you leave. A member of your care team will give you more information.

These questions are known as your Recovery Tracker. Fill out your Recovery Tracker every day before midnight am. It only takes 2 to 3 minutes to complete. For more information, read the resource About Your Recovery Tracker. People have pain or discomfort for different lengths of time. You may still have some pain when you go home and will probably be taking pain medication.

Some people have soreness, tightness, or muscle aches around their incisions as they recover. Some prescription pain medications such as opioids may cause constipation having fewer bowel movements than usual.

Talk with your healthcare provider about how to manage constipation. You can also follow the guidelines below. Your colon will start to adapt shortly after your surgery. During this time, you may have gas, cramps, or changes in your bowel habits such as diarrhea or frequent bowel movements.

These changes may take weeks or months to go away. You can also try the tips below. If you have gas or feel boated, avoid foods that can cause gas. Examples include beans, broccoli, onions, cabbage, and cauliflower. Drink water and drinks with salt, such as broth and sports drinks such as Gatorade. This will help you keep from becoming dehydrated and feeling weak. This happens because some of your nerves were cut during your surgery, even if you had a nerve-sparing procedure.

The numbness will go away over time. Change your bandages at least once a day, or more often if they become wet. Call your healthcare provider if you develop any of the following signs of an infection:. Clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before you touch your incisions. If you go home with staples or sutures in your incisions, your healthcare provider will take them out during one of your appointments after surgery.

Shower every day. Taking a warm shower is relaxing and can help ease muscle aches. Take your bandages off before you shower. When you shower, gently wash your incisions with a fragrance-free, liquid soap.

This could irritate them and keep them from healing. Let them air dry completely before getting dressed. Parts of your colon can be removed without having a major impact on your nutritional health. Your healthcare provider will give you dietary guidelines to follow after your surgery.

If you need to reach a clinical dietitian nutritionist after you go home, call For the first 6 weeks after your surgery:. Walking is a good way to increase your endurance.

You can walk outside or indoors at your local mall or shopping center. Recovery time is different for everyone. Increase your activities each day as much as you can. Always balance activity periods with rest periods.

Ask your healthcare provider when you can drive. You can ride in a car as a passenger at any time after you leave the hospital. Talk with your healthcare provider about your job and when it may be safe for you to start working again. If your job involves lots of movement or heavy lifting, you may need to stay out a little longer than if you sit at a desk.

After your surgery, the tumor and the tissue around it will be sent to a pathologist. Your test results will be ready about 7 business days after your surgery. Your surgeon will talk with you about the results and whether they recommend any additional treatments. Traditional surgery results in an average hospital stay of a week or more and usually 6 weeks of recovery.

Less invasive options are available to many patients facing colon surgery. The most common of these is laparoscopic surgery, in which smaller incisions are used. The colon is the large intestine; it is the lower part of your digestive tract. The intestine is a long, tubular organ consisting of the small intestine, the colon large intestine and the rectum, which is the last part of the colon.

After food is swallowed, it begins to be digested in the stomach and then empties into the small intestine, where the nutritional part of the food is absorbed. The remaining waste moves through the colon to the rectum and is expelled from the body. The colon and rectum absorb water and hold the waste until you are ready to expel it.

A technique known as minimally invasive laparoscopic colon surgery allows surgeons to perform many common colon procedures through small incisions.

Depending on the type of procedure, patients may leave the hospital in a few days and return to normal activities more quickly than patients recovering from open surgery. In some cases, one of the small openings may be lengthened to 2 or 3 inches to complete the procedure.

Common advantages are:. Although laparoscopic colon resection has many benefits, it may not be appropriate for some patients. Obtain a thorough evaluation by a surgeon qualified in laparoscopic colon resection in consultation with your primary care physician to find out if the technique is appropriate for your condition.