A hemicolectomy is an operation where one side of the colon (large intestine) is removed. Some people who have this surgery may need a stoma — an opening on the surface of the abdomen connected to the bowel.
The usual reasons for hemicolectomy are bowel cancer, polyps, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease or an abdominal injury.
If you are going to have hemicolectomy you might need to take 'bowel prep' medicine. This is a type of laxative that empties your bowel for the procedure. You may need to be on a 'clear fluids' only diet prior to the procedure. If you’re asked to do this, plan for a quiet time the day or 2 before surgery.
You will be asked to fast (not have anything to eat or drink) before surgery.
You may need to stop certain medicines temporarily. Check with your doctor.
After the general anaesthetic is given, the surgeon removes the unhealthy section of the bowel. This is usually done through a single cut in the abdomen, but sometimes this operation may be done laparascopically (‘keyhole’ surgery), through a few smaller cuts. After removing the unhealthy bowel, the surgeon joins the ends of the remaining bowel together.
Sometimes the ends of the bowel cannot be joined, so one end is connected to the skin of the abdomen. This creates an opening known as a stoma. A bag, known as a colostomy bag, is attached around the stoma to store bowel contents as they pass out of the body. You empty the bag regularly. For many people, the stoma is reversed once the bowel heals enough to be rejoined in a later operation.
A hemicolectomy is major surgery. It will take some time to get over it. When you wake, you'll have a drip in your arm and you’ll feel drowsy. You'll be given medicine to relieve pain, and perhaps antibiotics to prevent infection.
You'll probably feel tired and weak after a hemicolectomy. It can take a few weeks to feel better. Your doctor can advise you how much time you may need off work.
Some people experience constipation or diarrhoea after surgery. Let your doctor know if you are having problems.
You may need to stay in hospital for about 5-7 days. If you had keyhole surgery, your stay might be shorter.
A hemicolectomy is a significant operation with significant risks. Some people have bleeding or infection after surgery. It is also possible for the surgery to damage other organs in the abdomen, or for the bowel to leak. Some people get blood clots in the legs or lungs. If you have this surgery and notice any problems, call your doctor or go quickly to the hospital emergency department.
Article Source: More Information
Looking for the top 10 oral cancer treatment hospitals in India for international patients? This article addre...
Read More
Looking for the top breast cancer treatment hospitals in India for international patients? Our article covers ...
Read More
Discover the top 10 medical treatments in India for Uzbekistan patients in this comprehensive FAQ gu...
Read More
Discover the top 10 medical treatments in India FAQs for Cameroonian patients in this comprehensive guide. Get...
Read More
Discover the top 10 medical treatments in India FAQs for Omani patients in this comprehensive guide. Learn abo...
Read More
Discover the top 10 medical treatments in India FAQs for Uzbekistani patients. Explore common questions answer...
Read More
Looking for medical treatment in India? This article answers the Top 10 FAQs Nigerian patients have about heal...
Read More
Looking for answers on aplastic anemia bone marrow transplants in India? Our article covers the top 10 FAQs fo...
Read More
Discover the top 10 frequently asked questions about pediatric bone marrow transplants in India for internatio...
Read More
Discover the top 10 frequently asked questions about AVM surgery in India for international patients. Get valu...
Read More
Discover the top 10 frequently asked questions about bariatric surgery in India for international patients in ...
Read More
Discover the top 10 frequently asked questions about scoliosis surgery in India for international patients in ...
Read More
Looking for answers to your top FAQs about heart valve replacement surgery in India? This article covers the t...
Read More
Discover the top 10 frequently asked questions about the TAVI/TAVR procedure in India for international patien...
Read More
Looking for information on the top 10 Proton Therapy centers in India for international patients? This article...
Read More
Discover the top 10 cancer treatment options in India for international patients through this informative arti...
Read More
Discover everything you need to know about cancer treatment in India for international patients. Explore top h...
Read More
Looking for comprehensive information on cancer treatment in India for international patients? Our guide cover...
Read More
Looking for a comprehensive guide on bone marrow transplants in India for international patients? Explore this...
Read More
Discover all you need to know about CAR-T cell therapy in India - from the procedure and success rates to the ...
Read More
Discover all about Max Healthcare in India, a leading healthcare provider with a strong presence in multiple c...
Read More
Discover the world-class healthcare services at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in New Delhi. Established with ...
Read More
Discover Artemis Hospital in Gurugram, a leading healthcare facility with state-of-the-art technology, advance...
Read More
Discover all about Medanta The Medicity in Gurugram - from its establishment to the number of beds, accreditat...
Read More
Looking for the top plastic surgery hospitals in Turkey? Discover the best facilities, expertise, success rate...
Read More