Small bowel resection

Small bowel resection is surgery to remove a part of your small bowel. It is done when part of your small bowel is blocked or diseased.

The small bowel is also called the small intestine. Most digestion (breaking down and absorbing nutrients) of the food you eat takes place in the small intestine.

Description

You will receive general anesthesia at the time of your surgery. This will keep you asleep and pain-free.

The surgery can be performed laparoscopically or with open surgery.

If you have laparoscopic surgery:

• The surgeon makes 3 to 5 small cuts (incisions) in your lower belly. A medical device called a laparoscope is inserted through one of the cuts. The scope is a thin, lighted tube with a camera on the end. It lets the surgeon see inside your belly. Other medical instruments are inserted through the other cuts.
• A cut of about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 centimeters) may also be made if your surgeon needs to put their hand inside your belly to feel the intestine or remove the diseased segment.
• Your belly is filled with a harmless gas to expand it. This makes it easy for the surgeon to see and work.
• The diseased part of your small intestine is located and removed.

If you have open surgery:

• The surgeon makes a cut of 6 to 8 inches (15.2 to 20.3 centimeters) in your mid-belly.
• The diseased part of your small intestine is located and removed.