A small bowel resection is the removal of part of the small intestine. The small intestine includes the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The surgery can be done through an open incision or using a laparoscopic technique.
This procedure may be done to treat the following conditions:
Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a resection, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:
Previous abdominal surgery may increase the risk for complications.
Your doctor may do the following:
Leading up to your procedure:
General anesthesia will be given. You will be asleep.
The procedure may be done with one of two methods:
In either type of surgery, the small intestine will be clamped above and below the diseased section. This section will be cut free and removed.
If there is enough healthy intestine left, the free ends of the intestine may be joined together. Otherwise, a permanent or temporary ileostomy is created. An ileostomy is an opening (called a stoma) in the abdomen. The end of the small intestine closest to the stomach is attached to the opening. This allows intestinal contents to drain into a sealed pouch on the outside of the body. If a temporary ileostomy is created, another operation will be necessary several months later to reverse it.
The abdomen incisions will be closed with stitches.
About 1-4 hours
Anesthesia prevents pain during the procedure. Talk to your doctor about medicine to help manage the pain in recovery.
The usual length of stay is 5-7 days. Your doctor may choose to keep you longer if complications arise.
A catheter will be placed in your bladder before surgery. You will also have a nasogastric tube. This is a small tube that goes in through your nose and down into your stomach. The tube may be used to drain fluids from your stomach or to help deliver food to your stomach. The catheter and tube will remain until you are able to eat and go to the bathroom normally.
When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:
After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:
RESOURCES:
American College of Surgeons
http://www.facs.org/
National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
The Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG)
http://www.cag-acg.org/default.aspx
Canadian Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.ca/
References:
Mayo Clinic website. Available at: http://www.mayo.edu/.
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse website. Available at: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/.
Last reviewed November 2009 by Daus Mahnke, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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