Small bowel resection

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Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Small bowel resection - series

Overview

Recovery

Risks

Small bowel resection

Definition:

Small bowel resection is surgery to removepart of your small bowel, which is located between your stomach and large bowel (large intestine).The small bowel is also called the small intestine. Itis where most digestion occurs.

Alternative Names:
Small intestine surgery; Bowel resection - small intestine; Resection of part of the small intestine
Description:

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Small bowel resection is performed while you are under general anesthesia. This means you are unconscious and pain-free. A cutis made in the abdomen. The diseased portions of the small intestine are removed. The two healthy ends of the intestineare sewn or stapled back together (resected). The cut in the abdomen is closed.

To help the small intestine heal, a procedure called an ostomy may be done. An opening called a stoma is made from the intestine through the abdominal wall. The healthy end of theintestine near the stomachis then passed through the abdominal wall, and stitched in place. A drainage bag (also called a stoma appliance) is placed around the opening.

In most cases,the stoma istemporary and can be closed with another operation at a later date. If a large portion of the bowel is removed, thestoma may be permanent.

Thesmall intestinenormally absorbs fluid from food. With an ostomy, you will have liquid stool (feces)collect in the drainagebag. The frequent drainage of liquid stool can cause the skin around the ostomy to become inflamed. Careful skin care and a well-fitting stoma appliance can reduce this irritation.

Indications:

Small bowel resection may be recommended for the following:

A block in the intestine due to scar tissue or deformities
Bleeding, infection, or ulcers due to inflammation of the small intestine (regional ileitis, regional enteritis, Crohn's disease)
Injuries
Cancer
Precancerous polyps
Benign tumors