How long does right hemicolectomy take

The alternative to right hemicolectomy is a procedure to bypass the affected area by joining one part of the bowel to another, without removing the stricture or growth in the bowel.

Before the procedure, it is important to prepare the bowel. You will be given only clear liquids for 24 hours, and enema administered before the operation to clear your bowels. Right hemicolectomy can be performed as either a laparoscopic or open surgery, under general anaesthesia. To access the bowel, your surgeon may make a large incision in the case of open surgery or several small incisions on the abdomen for laparoscopic surgery.

The right side of your colon and the last section of the small intestine is excised along with the attached blood vessels and lymph nodes. The remaining part of the colon and small intestine are then re-joined with the help of sutures or staples. They will also advise how much physical activity you should be undertaking every day and when you can start to carry out your normal activities and return to work. It may be six weeks or so before you can lift anything heavier than 15 kilogrammes and it may take a few months before your abdomen feels normal again.

There may also be numbness around the cuts in your abdomen. The bowel function is usually not affected after a right hemicolectomy. Speaking with your specialist or surgeon beforehand will help you avoid any adverse reactions. Right hemicolectomy surgery has a risk of serious complications. The following risks and complications can occur in a small number of cases:.

Prior to right hemicolectomy surgery, your surgeon will discuss with you how best to prepare for surgery, as each patient is different.

Your doctor may also ask that you follow a special diet and some surgeons will ask you to take a laxative bowel preparation in the days before surgery in order to clear your bowel. We'll be in touch within one working day to answer your query or arrange an appointment. If you need to wear a colostomy bag for a stoma, your doctor will follow up with you.

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This procedure involves attaching the colon to the abdominal wall and creating an opening, or stoma. A colostomy may be permanent or temporary.

Recovery from a hemicolectomy depends on whether the procedure is laparoscopic or open surgery. However, recovery is likely to take 1—2 months. In many instances, a hemicolectomy without complications requires a hospital stay of 3—7 days. Typically, a bladder catheter will remain for 1—2 days after the procedure to drain urine from the body. The surgeon may also insert abdominal drains to remove fluids. After removing the epidural, a medical team may administer oral pain medications.

Although it can vary, people can usually resume eating and drinking as soon as they feel ready. However, it may take 6—8 weeks before they can resume their regular diet.

The doctor may encourage a person to start walking as soon as possible after the procedure. Walking decreases the risk of a blood clot developing and also promotes digestion. After discharge from the hospital, a person will receive specific recovery instructions. These may include when to resume everyday activities, such as driving and lifting heavy objects. The outlook for people who have a hemicolectomy varies, depending on the reason they needed the procedure.

Some people may have to make lifestyle or dietary changes following the surgery. People who undergo a hemicolectomy to treat a bowel disease may feel better and experience reduced symptoms after the surgery.

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