Description of the procedure
A bowel resection is a treatment for colorectal cancer where the tumor and nearby parts of the colon, or rectum, are removed. This procedure can also be used to treat other bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease, or to remove something blocking the bowel.
This procedure is done with general anesthetic in a hospital.
The bowel is reattached end-to-end following the removal of a portion of the bowel.
When should this procedure be performed?
Your doctor will decide whether the procedure is needed and when to perform it. This procedure can be repeated if necessary.
Why is this procedure performed?
A bowel resection can be used to prevent cancer from spreading to the surrounding area or other parts of the body by removing the colorectal tumor before it spreads. In cases where the cancer has already spread, a bowel resection can stop bleeding or remove obstacles in the intestine that have been caused by tumors. People with Crohn's disease or other bowel disorders may also need a bowel resection to remove diseased sections of the colon.
Are there any risks and precautions I should know about?
Certain risks are common to all surgery and use of anesthetic. These include adverse reactions to the anesthetic, breathing problems, infection, and bleeding.
After bowel resection surgery, scar tissue may form around the bowel which may be painful and may block the bowel. A hernia (a bulging through the abdominal wall where the surgery was done) may also develop.
Though not required for most colorectal cancer cases, the surgeon may need to perform a colostomy if it is not possible to reattach the two parts of the colon or rectum. A colostomy is a surgical procedure where an opening is made in the abdominal wall in order for stool to pass into a colostomy bag located outside the body. In some cases, this is a temporary measure until the colon heals, but for people who have had their lower rectum removed, the colostomy is permanent.