Colectomy is any surgery involving the large intestine, which is the longest part of the large intestine. This surgery is usually done for preventive, therapeutic, or palliative reasons, including cancer, infection, intestinal obstruction, and other factors. This article will take a closer look at the necessity of large bowel resection surgery and the medical rationale behind it.
Necessity of surgeryAccording to medical experts, the main indicators for large bowel resection include:
1. Colorectal cancer2. Colon polyps that are difficult to remove through colon endoscopy
3. Colitis and diverticular disease
4. Colon perforation or trauma
5. Bleeding6. Inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
7. Intestinal ischemia or infarction
The occurrence of these diseases may greatly damage the patient's quality of life and may even be life-threatening, so early surgery is very important.
Before surgery, you'll have a battery of tests, including blood tests and imaging tests, such as a colonoscopy or CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis. In some cases, lesions on the colon are marked to serve as a guide during surgery.
Patients are usually asked to follow a clear diet and take bowel preparation measures, such as using laxatives, to clear the contents of their intestines before surgery.
Colorectal resection surgery can be divided into open surgery, laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery. Laparoscopic technology is becoming increasingly popular, and approximately 40% of colorectal resections in the United States are performed using this approach. Advantages of this approach include small incisions and a short recovery time.
After the surgery, the surgeon chooses to reconnect the intestine or create a colostomy. This depends on the postoperative situation and several factors assessed by the surgeon, such as the urgency of the surgery and the cleanliness of the bowel.
The main considerations for choosing whether to perform primary anastomosis or stoma include the urgency of the operation, the degree of contamination of the operating field, the technical difficulty of the anastomosis, and the patient's physiological considerations.
While large bowel resection can improve outcomes for many patients, all surgeries have the potential for serious complications, including:
1. Bleeding 2. Infection3. Damage to adjacent tissues
These risks must be thoroughly understood and assessed preoperatively to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.
Malanastomosis is a relatively common complication after surgery, usually caused by failure to connect the ends of the intestine, which can lead to more serious problems such as peritonitis or sepsis.
ConclusionIn some cases, removal of the entire large intestine may be necessary, usually based on the nature of the disease and the patient's condition. Although surgery carries certain risks, for many patients it may be the only path to recovery. The development and progress of colorectal resection surgery continues to lead to the refinement and innovation of medical technology. When it comes to patient health, is the choice of surgery always trustworthy?