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Resection is another name for any operation that removes tissue or part of an organ. Bowel resection, also called partial colectomy, removes a diseased or damaged part of the colon or rectum. Bowel resection can be done for many diseases that affect the colon, such as colorectal cancer, diverticulitis, or Crohn's disease.
The goal of bowel resection is to take out the part of the colon or rectum where the problem is. If the doctor is removing cancer from the colon, nearby lymph nodes are taken out and tested for cancer. Then healthy parts of the colon or rectum are sewn back together. Bowel resection is done either by opening the abdomen (open resection) or by laparoscopy.
Laparoscopy for bowel resection usually involves 3 to 6 very small incisions instead of one large one. Recovery time is faster.
You and your doctor will think about several things in deciding whether you should have open resection or a laparoscopy. These include:
- The location and extent of the disease
- Your general health
- Whether you have scar tissue in the area from previous surgery
- Your doctor's expertise and experience
Sometimes a laparoscopic surgery has to be changed to an open resection during the surgery.
Why is a bowel resection done?
Bowel resection may be done to remove cancer or when the colon cannot function normally because of damage or disease. You may need a bowel resection if you have:
- A bowel obstruction
- Colon cancer
- Crohn's disease
- Diverticulitis
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