Bowel Obstruction Surgery
Bowel Obstruction surgery is an interventional procedure that involves both removal of any material that is blocking the intestines and repair of those area of the intestine that may have been damaged due to the obstruction.
Some facts about Bowel Obstruction Surgery:
- Removal of any material that is blocking the intestines such as feces, cancer, a polyp, an infectious abscess, or a twist in the bowel can be done by bowel obstruction surgery.
- The section of the intestine that may have been damaged due to the obstruction can be repaired by bowel obstruction surgery.
Preparation for Bowel Obstruction Surgery:
- Avoid eating and drinking anything eight hours before Bowel Obstruction Surgery.
- You may drink a sip of water with your medications if needed.
- Any history of bleeding disorders or are taking any blood-thinning (anticoagulant) medicines, aspirin, or other medicines that affect blood clotting should be informed to your healthcare provider as you may need to stop taking these medicines before your surgery.
- The possible complications and side effects, the risks, and what the operation involves will be discussed with you by your doctor.
- An abdominal X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, or ultrasound will be done to diagnose any bowel obstruction.
- An imaging test called barium enema will be done in which a small amount of contrast material is inserted into the rectum to help visualize intestinal structures.
- Your complete blood count and electrolyte levels will be checked.
- A urinalysis, which reflects your electrolyte levels and can show signs of an infection will also be performed.
- A sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy might also be done to visualize the structure on the inside of the bowels.
Procedure for Bowel Obstruction Surgery:
- Bowel obstruction surgery is performed in a hospital under general anesthesia.
- Bowel obstruction surgery can be planned in advance. But, sometimes it has to be done as an emergency procedure due to rapidly worsening and life-threatening complications.
- An open laparotomy with a large incision or a laparoscopic procedure, with a few small incisions can be performed.
- The extent of the blockage isn't necessarily the primary factor for deciding the type of procedure.
- Several things, including the number and location of the blockages, the cause of the bowel obstruction, your risk of infection, and any previous surgeries will be taken in to consideration while deciding on an approach.
- Removal of an obstructive lesion, Blood vessel repair, Resection of severely damaged areas of the intestines and Creation of an ostomy may involve in your procedure.
- Chronic bowel obstructions cannot be removed with surgery, particularly those with advanced cancer which may be due to narrowed structures and/or large tumor size.
- Bowel obstruction surgery is done to save your small or large intestine and to prevent the complications that can happen when an obstruction isn't treated,
- A breathing tube will be inserted through your mouth and into your windpipe before it's connected to the ventilator to help you breathe during the procedure.
- A foley catheter will be placed in the urethra to collect urine.
- A nasogastric tube will also be placed into your nose and down to your mouth to collect blood and fluid from your stomach during surgery.
Open Bowel Obstruction Surgery:
- The surgeon will make up to a 6 to 8 inch abdominal incision to access the bowel obstruction for decompression and repair.
- Surgical resection, Removal of adhesions, Stent placement, Colostomy/ileostomy or Revascularization may be performed during the surgery depending on the cause of the obstruction and associated intestinal damage.
- Dissolvable sutures will be used by the surgeon to close internal incisions when the surgery is completed.
- The external incision will be sealed with stitches or surgical staples and the wound will be covered with sterile gauze and tape.
Laparoscopic Bowel Obstruction:
- Thin scopes, which are tubes inserted through one or more tiny incisions in the abdomen will be utilized in minimally invasive surgery.
- Endoscopy, can be used to treat the blockage in which a tube is placed into the mouth.
- Sigmoidoscopy, may also be used to treat the blockage in some cases in which a tube is placed into rectum.
- A computer monitor is used by the surgeon to view the intestines and the obstruction with minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure.
- A stent may be placed if the obstructed area is prone to recurrent obstruction, such as due to nerve or muscle impairment
- Abdominal incisions will be closed with steri-tape or stitches and your wound will be covered with sterile gauze and tape to protect it.
