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Laparoscopic Hemicolectomy Surgery in India
Released Date: 2021-09-10
What is Laparoscopic Hemicolectomy?
🖼️ Understand It in Pictures
Healthy bowel vs bowel tumour vs after surgery
👀 Symptoms in Pictures
🩻 Scans & Tests — What Doctors See
🎬 The Treatment Journey in Pictures
📅 Recovery at a Glance
Drawings: Satyug Healthcare (simplified, not to scale). Photos: Wikimedia Commons; author and licence under each photo.
Laparoscopic hemicolectomy is a modern keyhole operation to remove one part (the right or the left side) of the large intestine, called the colon. The healthy ends of the bowel are then joined together again.
It is most often done to treat bowel (colon) cancer. It may also be needed for polyps (growths in the colon that can turn into cancer) and for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
A right hemicolectomy removes the right side of the colon and a left hemicolectomy removes the left side; the steps of the operation are similar. It can be done in two ways: open surgery or keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery. In open surgery, the surgeon makes one larger cut in the abdomen to remove the diseased part of the colon.
In laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, the surgeon makes several small cuts and passes a thin camera (laparoscope) and special instruments through them. The surgeon watches the picture on a monitor, removes the diseased part of the colon and joins the healthy ends.
How long does it take to recover from a hemicolectomy?
Recovery after laparoscopic hemicolectomy is usually faster than after open surgery. Even so, most patients stay in hospital for 5 to 7 days.
Full healing of the large intestine takes about 1 to 3 months. This depends on the patient’s general health.
How do I prepare for a hemicolectomy?
Preparation starts about one week before the surgery. The doctors will do an X-ray and other lab tests to check your health and to plan the operation. You will not be allowed to eat for 8 hours before the surgery.
Is a hemicolectomy painful?
Hemicolectomy is major surgery, so some pain afterwards is expected. You will be given anaesthesia, so you will be asleep during the operation. When you wake up in the recovery room, you may feel drowsy because of the anaesthesia. For the first 1 to 3 days, painkillers are given through an IV drip to keep you comfortable.
Will I lose weight after the surgery?
Some patients lose weight after the surgery because they eat less for a while. Most people get back to their normal weight once they recover and return to a balanced, nourishing diet.
Can I drink alcohol to get rid of the pain?
No, you should not drink alcohol. Alcohol and some other drugs can increase the risk of complications during surgery and slow down healing. Your doctor will advise you to stop drinking alcohol at least one week before the surgery. If you drink regularly, tell your doctor, because surgery and healing can be harder for you.
What is the success rate of a hemicolectomy?
For colon cancer, results depend on the stage of the cancer. The 3-year disease-free survival is about 97.03% for Stage I, 93.24% for Stage II and 86.88% for Stage III.
Can I live without my colon?
Yes. A hemicolectomy removes only part of the colon, and the remaining bowel works well. In serious cases the whole colon has to be removed. People can still live without a colon: often the small intestine can be joined to the rectum, or a pouch made from the small intestine can be created, so no bag is needed. Some patients need a stoma (an opening on the abdomen with a bag to collect stool).
What can I eat after a hemicolectomy?
Right after the surgery you will get fluids and nutrients through a drip. You will then start with liquids and move on to soft, easy-to-digest food as your bowel recovers; your surgical team will guide you. After full recovery, you can usually return to your normal diet.
When can I return to work after hemicolectomy surgery?
Most people need 2 to 3 weeks off work. This depends on the kind of work you do and on your health. Ask your doctor for advice about your own recovery.
We hope this answers your questions. For more information about your condition, please consult your doctor. We can help you choose the doctor, treatment and hospital.
Have a related query? Send us your reports at the email address below, or call or WhatsApp us for a second opinion.
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E-mail address- query@satyughealthcare.com
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