What are the complications of intestinal resection?

Bowel resection by General Surgeon in Lahore helps to treat a number of conditions. However, the procedure in itself is not without complications. Following the surgery, there may be certain complications that need management by the healthcare provider. Read on to know more about the indications of intestinal resection and associated complications:

What is intestinal resection?

Intestinal resection is a surgical procedure to remove part of the intestines; this can be part of the small intestine, large intestine (colon) or the anorectal region. This procedure helps to remove damaged part of the intestine, treat many diseases, tumors and blockages of the intestines.

Intestinal resection can be done through:

Open incision: with this type of intestinal resection, a long cut is made on the abdomen and part of the colon or small intestine is removed.
Laparoscopy: unlike open surgery, two small cuts are made on the abdomen in this type of surgery to pass the scope and surgical instruments through. Thereafter, the abdomen is viewed through the laparoscope or camera and small surgical tools are used to removed part of the gut. This type of surgery has a smaller recovery time and post-operative complications as opposed to the open procedure.

The type of surgery to go for, is decided by the operating surgeon, depending on the underlying disease and the condition of the patient.

What are the conditions treated by intestinal resection?

Intestinal resection helps to treat the following conditions:

Colon cancer: cancer that has spread from another site to the colon (metastatic cancer) or cancer that has originated in the bowel needs intestinal resection. If the cancer has involved the draining lymph nodes, they are also removed with part of the intestines. Resection of the cancerous lesion helps to treat the existing disease and prevents its spread to distal organs.
Large bowel obstruction: blockage of the large bowel due to any reason may need surgical resection as part of the treatment. Most common causes of intestinal resection include: twisting or volvulus of the gut, as well as stricture formation.
Inflammatory bowel disease: if any of the autoimmune inflammatory bowel diseases including ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease have caused severe damage to the colon, the healthcare provider may choose intestinal resection as part of the therapy. This is because uncontrolled disease can cause strictures to form along with gut.
Gastrointestinal bleeding: with uncontrolled bleeding due to trauma or any other cause, intestinal resection can become a treatment option for the healthcare provider. This is because persistent gastrointestinal bleeding is dangerous for the patient and can induce hypovolemic shock.
Precancerous lesions: in some patients with family history of precancerous diseases like familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome, prophylactic intestinal resection or colectomy becomes an option. This procedure helps to prevent the progression of these precancerous lesions to full blown cancer.
Diverticulitis: another common condition for which intestinal resection can be performed includes diverticulitis. Persistent or recurring diverticulitis is often undertreated with oral medication. In such cases, surgical treatment with intestinal resection is mandated. This is a safer alternative for the patient as persistent disease can lead to damage to the nearby organs.

How to prepare for intestinal resection?

Intestinal resection is a major surgery with pre-operative evaluation including:

Counseling: before the procedure is planned, the patient is fully informed about its risks, preparatory procedure and post-op pain management.
Health screening: in this procedure certain investigations are performed to assess fitness for surgery. This includes:
- blood tests
- x-rays
- colonoscopy
- urinalysis
Bowel preparation: just before the surgery, the bowel is prepared for surgery through evacuation with enema. Thereafter the patient may be put on complete liquid.