Table Of Contents
- What is Laparoscopic Intestinal Resection?
- Why do you need a Laparoscopic Intestinal Resection?
- What is the procedure of Laparoscopic Intestinal Resections?
- Recovery of Laparoscopic Intestinal Resections
What is Laparoscopic Intestinal Resection?
Your small intestines are crucial to maintaining good digestive health. It absorbs nutrients from your food and delivers the waste to the large intestine that flushes them out from the body.
Any problem in this daily bodily function can be harmful to your health. You may need surgery to remove small intestines if you have intestinal blockages or other bowel diseases. This procedure is called Laparoscopic Intestinal Resection.
Why do you need a Laparoscopic Intestinal Resection?
There are many conditions that can damage your small bowel. In certain instances, your healthcare practitioner may recommend removing a portion of the small intestine, while in other cases, a part of your small intestine might be removed to rule out any disease.
Health conditions that may require surgery include:
- Bleeding or infection
- Many ulcers in the intestine
- Block in the intestine
- Noncancerous tumors
- Precancerous polyps
- Cancer
- Intestinal pouch present at birth known as Meckel’s diverticulum
- Injuries to the small intestine
Conditions that cause intestinal inflammation may also require surgery. Conditions such as:
- Crohn’s disease
- Regional ileitis
- Regional enteritis
What is the procedure of Laparoscopic Intestinal Resections?
Before the surgery, you will need to undergo a complete physical exam. Your doctor will make sure that you are continuing medication for any health condition such as blood pressure, diabetes, etc. If you smoke, make sure to stop several weeks before surgery. If you are taking any vitamins or any other prescription medications, tell your doctor beforehand. Make sure you are taking any blood- thinning medications as this can cause complications or excessive bleeding during surgery.
Also, inform your doctor if you have been recently undergone any surgery or have been hospitalized or allergic to any medicine. Eat high-fiber foods and stick to a liquid diet such as broth, juice, water. The doctor may also ask you to have a laxative to flush out your bowels.
Do not eat or drink anything before the surgery, as it can cause complications with your anesthesia. This may prolong your stay in the hospital.
The doctor will give you general anesthesia, which is mandatory for the surgery. The procedure can take somewhere between 1-8 hours. There are two types of surgery – open and laparoscopic surgery.
Open surgery
In open surgery, the surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen. Its location and length are based on various factors, such as the specific location of your problem and your body build. Your surgeon will remove the affected area of the small intestine.
Laparoscopic surgery
Laparoscopic Intestinal Resections make 3-5 smaller incisions. Your surgeon will pump gas into your abdomen and inflate it, which makes it easier for the surgeon to see. The surgery also involves tubes with tiny cameras to see the internal organs and small tools to detect the infected area and remove it. Once the infected area is removed, the surgeon will stitch the incisions.
Post-surgery care
You will need to stay in the hospital for a week or so after surgery. A catheter will be attached to your bladder to drain urine into the bag. You will also have a nasogastric tube that travels from your nose into your stomach to drain the contents of the stomach and deliver food to your stomach.
Recovery of Laparoscopic Intestinal Resections
People will recover well after the surgery. You can get back to your routine after getting a nod from your medical practitioner. Make sure to follow up with your check-up with your healthcare practitioner.
