Crohn’s disease is more than an inconvenient, uncomfortable inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); it can flare up without warning. During an active period, symptoms can include abdominal tenderness, fever, chronic diarrhea, and pain. When treatments with diet changes or medications have not provided you with relief, your physician may recommend that you have surgery to control your specific form of IBD.
The surgeon performs a Resection as either open or laparoscopic. Your doctor will determine which form of surgery is the best approach for you. The operation happens in a hospital, and an anesthesiologist gives you general anesthesia so you will be asleep during the surgery and not feel any pain. You will need to remain in the hospital for 5 to 10 days for open surgery or 3 to 5 days for laparoscopic surgery.
Resection Surgery For Crohn’s Disease
Open Surgery: The surgeon makes one large incision in your abdomen to gain access to the operation site. The diseased section of your large or small intestine is identified, clamped off, and removed. Your doctor sews the remaining healthy ends together, forming an anastomosis. The surgeon removes the instruments, and the incision is closed using sutures. After the surgery, you will go to a recovery room for observation until the anesthesia wears off, and then you will go to your hospital room.
Laparoscopic Surgery: The surgeon makes several small incisions and inserts a laparoscopic instrument with an attached camera into one incision for an unobstructed view of the surgery site. The surgeon inserts instruments in the other incisions used to clamp off and remove the unhealthy portions of your intestines. Then, the surgeon attaches the remaining ends with sutures to form an anastomosis. After the surgeon removes the instruments and the camera, the incisions are closed with sutures. After the surgery, you remain in a recovery room for observation until the anesthesia wears, and then you will go to your hospital room.
