Colectomy also known as large bowel resection is the surgical procedure used to treat colon cancer, tumours, inflammatory diseases and diverticulitis. Colectomy is a common procedure used to eliminate and remove the cancer cells with the help of a surgical removal of the large intestine, fully or partly. It is also called large bowel resection. It is followed by supplementary procedures to reattach the remaining portions of the digestive system in order to enable the waste to leave the body.
Following are various types of Colectomy procedure depending on what part of
Right Hemicolectomy
Left Hemicolectomy
Transverse Colectomy
Sigmoid Colectomy
A colectomy may be done anywhere within the shaded areas of the diagrams
Our aim at Laparo obeso centre is to treat patients with minimal invasive procedures and thus we choose to treat patients with laparoscopic colectomy over the open surgery option available.
Laparoscopic colectomy is a minimally invasive procedure wherein many ( three to five ) small incisions are made on the lower abdomen instead of one large incision. A laparoscope along with a telescopic video camera is inserted through the incisions and is used to see inside of the abdomen, and is inserted through an incision. Small surgical instruments are passed through 2 other incisions through which the colon is removed. Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas is filled in the lower abdomen and expanded for easy access post which the diseased part of the colon is removed. Post which the healthy parts of the colon are reattached and all the incisions made are closed with the help of sutures.
Some of the ways to prevent the colon cancer include high fibre diets and vitamins, avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, lose weight in case you are obese, and a healthy life style can lessen risk of colon cancer.
Before the procedure it is essential to do fasting and intake laxative solution for clearing bowels as recommended by the doctor. On the day of the surgery the patient's blood pressure and breathing is monitored and an antibiotic medication is introduced in the blood for preventing bacterial infection.
Colectomy is performed under general anaesthesia so that the patients fall asleep. The procedure may take around 1 to 4 hours depending on each case.
It can take a few days to weeks after this surgical procedure for the patient to recover. Surgeons may discharge the patient from the hospital in a few days to a week after surgery, depending on the recovered condition of the patient.