When the results of all the tests confirm that you have an ulcerative colitis and medications have not eased the inflammation and pain, surgery is a viable option. The type of surgery for your particular problem will depend on the amount of the damage that needs to be corrected. Your Glendora General Surgeon will explain each procedure and discuss which one is best for you.
Regardless of the precise operation, your general surgeon will determine if the procedure can be a laparoscopic or an open surgery. The surgery is performed in a hospital. Before the surgery, you will be given a general anesthesia to ensure that you will not feel any pain. The surgery will take between 3 to 4 hours to complete. And you will need to remain in the hospital for several days.
Laparoscopic Surgery:
This operation requires 3 to 5 small incisions be made in your lower stomach. A medical laparoscope is an instrument with a slender tube and an attached camera that the surgeon puts into one of the incisions in order to see where the damaged area is located. Your stomach is filled with gas so that the surgeon has a clear view of the area where he will be working. One larger cut may be required if the surgeon needs to put a hand inside of the stomach to help remove the colon. It is not unusual to remove some lymph nodes while removing the damaged areas. The incisions will be closed with stitches or staples.
Open Surgery:
The surgeon follows the same procedure as for the laparoscopic surgery, but there is only one large incision made in the lower stomach area.
Both Surgeries:
At the end of each procedure, the surgeon will stitch the healthy ends of the large colon together. If there is not a suffusion amount of colon to be connected, an opening, called a stoma, will be made in the stomach and the colon will be attached using your stomach’s outer wall. Your waste material will pass through the stoma into a drainage bag located on the outside of your body.
Post Surgery:
Before your operation, your general surgeon will provide you with all of the necessary post-operative care. You will be instructed on any dietary restrictions, when you’ll be able to resume normal daily activities, and when to schedule follow-up examinations. The normal recovery time is 4 to 6 weeks.
