Colectomy Surgery Time

Colectomy

What is Colectomy?

Colectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of your colon. Your colon, part of your large intestine, is a long tube-like organ at the end of your digestive tract. Colectomy may be necessary to treat or prevent diseases and conditions that affect your colon.

There are various types of colectomy operations:

. Total colectomy involves removing the entire colon.

. Partial colectomy involves removing part of the colon and may also be called subtotal colectomy.

. Hemicolectomy involves removing the right or left portion of the colon.

. Proctocolectomy involves removing both the colon and rectum.

Colectomy surgery usually requires other procedures to reattach the remaining portions of your digestive system and permit waste to leave your body.

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Before Colectomy

Why it's done

Colectomy is used to treat and prevent diseases and conditions that affect the colon, such as:

. Bleeding that can't be controlled. Severe bleeding from the colon may require surgery to remove the affected portion of the colon.

. Bowel obstruction. A blocked colon is an emergency that may require total or partial colectomy, depending on the situation.

. Colon cancer. Early-stage cancers may require only a small section of the colon to be removed during colectomy. Cancers at a later stage may require more of the colon to be removed.

. Crohn's disease. If medications aren't helping you, removing the affected part of your colon may offer temporary relief from signs and symptoms. Colectomy may also be an option if precancerous changes are found during a test to examine the colon (colonoscopy).

. Ulcerative colitis. Your doctor may recommend total colectomy or proctocolectomy if medications aren't helping to control your signs and symptoms. Proctocolectomy may also be recommended if precancerous changes are found during a colonoscopy.

. Diverticulitis. Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the affected portion of the colon if your diverticulitis recurs or if you experience complications of diverticulitis.

. Preventive surgery. If you have a very high risk of colon cancer due to the formation of multiple precancerous colon polyps, you may choose to undergo total colectomy to prevent cancer in the future. Colectomy may be an option for people with inherited genetic conditions that increase colon cancer risk, such as familial adenomatous polyposis or Lynch syndrome.

Discuss your treatment options with your doctor. In some situations, you may have a choice between various types of colectomy operations. Your doctor can discuss the benefits and risks of each.

Risks

Colectomy carries a risk of serious complications. Your risk of complications is based on your general health, the type of colectomy you undergo and the approach your surgeon uses to perform the operation.

In general, complications of colectomy can include:

. Bleeding

. Blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) and the lungs (pulmonary embolism)

. Infection

. Injury to organs near your colon, such as the bladder and small intestines

. Tears in the sutures that reconnect the remaining parts of your digestive system

You'll spend time in the hospital after your colectomy to allow your digestive system to heal. Your health care team will also monitor you for signs of complications from your surgery. You may spend a few days to a week in the hospital, depending on your condition and your situation.

How you prepare

During the days leading up to your colon surgery, your doctor may ask that you:

. Stop taking certain medications. Certain medications can increase your risk of complications during surgery, so your doctor may ask that you stop taking those medications before your surgery.

. Fast before your surgery. Your doctor will give you specific instructions. You may be asked to stop eating and drinking several hours to a day before your procedure.

. Drink a solution that clears your bowels. Your doctor may prescribe a laxative solution that you mix with water at home. You drink the solution over several hours, following the directions. The solution causes diarrhea to help empty your colon. Your doctor may also recommend enemas.

. Take antibiotics. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to suppress the bacteria found naturally in your colon and to help prevent infection.

Preparing for colectomy isn't always possible. For instance, if you need an emergency colectomy due to bowel obstruction or bowel perforation, there may not be time to prepare.

Plan for your hospital stay

You'll spend at least a few days in the hospital after your colectomy, depending on your situation. Make arrangements for someone to take care of your responsibilities at home and at work.

Think ahead to what you might like to have with you while you're recovering in the hospital. Things you might pack include:

. A robe and slippers

. Toiletries, such as your toothbrush and toothpaste and, if needed, your shaving supplies

. Comfortable clothes to wear home

. Activities to pass the time, such as a book, magazine or games

During Colectomy

During the Procedure

On the day of your surgery, your health care team will take you to a preparation room. Your blood pressure and breathing will be monitored. You may receive an antibiotic medication through a vein in your arm.

You will then be taken to an operating room and positioned on a table. You'll be given a general anesthesia medication to put you in a sleep-like state so that you won't be aware during your operation.

The surgical team will then proceed with your colectomy. Colon surgery may be performed in two ways:

. Open colectomy. Open surgery involves making a longer incision in your abdomen to access your colon. Your surgeon uses surgical tools to free your colon from the surrounding tissue and cuts out either a portion of the colon or the entire colon.

. Laparoscopic colectomy. Laparoscopic colectomy, also called minimally invasive colectomy, involves several small incisions in your abdomen. Your surgeon passes a tiny video camera through one incision and special surgical tools through the other incisions.

The surgeon watches a video screen in the operating room as the tools are used to free the colon from the surrounding tissue. The colon is then brought out through a small incision in your abdomen. This allows the surgeon to operate on the colon outside of your body.

Once repairs are made to the colon, the surgeon reinserts the colon through the incision.

The type of operation you undergo depends on your situation and your surgeon's expertise. Laparoscopic colectomy may reduce the pain and recovery time after surgery. But not everyone is a candidate for this procedure. Also, in some situations your operation may begin as a laparoscopic colectomy, but circumstances may force your surgical team to convert to an open colectomy.

Once the colon has been repaired or removed, your surgeon will reconnect your digestive system to allow your body to expel waste. Options may include:

. Rejoining the remaining portions of your colon. The surgeon may stitch the remaining portions of your colon together or attach your colon to your small intestine, creating what is called an anastomosis. Stool then leaves your body as before.

. Connecting your intestine to an opening created in your abdomen. The surgeon may attach your colon (colostomy) or small intestine (ileostomy) to an opening created in your abdomen. This allows waste to leave your body through the opening (stoma).

You may wear a bag on the outside of the stoma to collect stool. This can be permanent or temporary.

. Connecting your small intestine to your anus. After removing both the colon and the rectum (proctocolectomy), the surgeon may use a portion of your small intestine to create a pouch that is attached to your anus (ileoanal anastomosis). This allows you to expel waste normally, though you may have several watery bowel movements each day.

As part of this procedure, you may undergo a temporary ileostomy.

Your surgeon will discuss your options with you before your operation.

After Colectomy

What can I expect after colectomy surgery?

You may stay in the hospital for two to four days after colectomy surgery. If you have a minimally invasive procedure, you may have a shorter hospital stay.

In some cases, your surgeon may place a catheter (long, thin tube) in your bladder during surgery. This catheter collects urine into an attached bag. If you need a urinary catheter, your provider will likely place it after you go to sleep for surgery and remove it before you leave the hospital.

What does colectomy recovery look like?

Recovery from colectomy surgery looks different for everyone. A lot depends on why you needed a colectomy and what the procedure involved.

Before you go home from the hospital, your provider will explain how surgery may impact what you can eat or how your body gets rid of waste (poop). Recovery may include minor or big changes in how your body functions. These changes may be temporary (for a short time) or permanent (lifelong).

Your provider will give you clear instructions for how to take care of yourself during your recovery. They will guide you in:

. Managing any pain you feel.

. Caring for your incision.

. Caring for a colostomy bag (if you have one).

. Making healthy food choices to avoid stressing your digestive system while your body heals.

. Watching out for warning signs of possible complications, such as infection.

. Doing the right activities – you may have to limit how much you lift or carry for a while as you heal.

Be open with your provider about any questions you have, before and after surgery. They understand many of the common concerns people have about colectomy surgery. And they can provide tips that may ease your mind.

Your provider will encourage you to take it easy right after surgery. Try to be extra gentle with yourself in the first few days after you get home. Getting up to walk around is good for you. But don’t do too much, too soon. Your provider can help you understand exactly what that looks like for you.

Many people get back to most of their usual routines two weeks after surgery. Ask your provider if you need to take extra precautions before resuming any particular activities, such as showers, work, driving or sex.

What can I eat after a colectomy?

Your provider may recommend sticking to a low-fiber diet for up to one month after surgery. Low-fiber foods include white pasta and bread. These foods create less work for your colon while it’s trying to heal.

Your provider may also recommend you increase how much water you drink every day. You will likely meet with a dietitian or other nutrition expert after surgery. This provider can help you make smart diet choices that are best for your body.

When should I call the doctor?

Your healthcare provider will explain what signs you should watch out for after your surgery.

Call your provider anytime you have concerns, especially if you have:

. Redness, swelling or foul odor near the incision site.

. Any pain (especially around your belly) that gets worse over time.

. No bowel movements for two to three days after surgery.

. Fever.

. Throwing up.

What’s the difference between a colectomy vs. a colostomy?

Not all colectomy surgeries require a colostomy. If your surgeon can reconnect both ends of healthy colon tissue, you may experience few or no changes to how your body digests food.

Sometimes, the colon can’t be put back together right away (or at all). In that case, your surgeon will create a colostomy.

During a colostomy procedure, a surgeon:

1. Makes an opening (called a stoma) in the abdominal wall.
2. Connects the healthy end of the colon to the stoma.
3. Connects a plastic bag (called a colostomy bag) to this opening.

This waterproof bag collects waste from the digestive tract. You will need to empty this bag throughout the day.

Sources:

. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/colectomy/about/pac-20384631

. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/4671-colectomy-bowel-resection-surgery