Bowel Surgery – Small Bowel Resection

Procedure:

Removal of part of the small bowel. This will be
rejoined using stitches or staples.

Risks of this procedure:

There are some risks/ complications, which include:
(a) Deep bleeding in the abdominal cavity could
occur and this may need fluid replacement or
further surgery.
(b) The bowel edges which have been joined
together may come apart and bowel fluid may
leak out of the bowel. This can cause serious
problems which may be life-threatening.
(c) Infections such as pus collections can occur in
the abdominal cavity. This may need surgical
drainage.
(d) The bowel movement may be paralysed or
blocked after surgery and this may cause
building up of fluid in the bowel with bloating of
the abdomen and vomiting. Further treatment
may be necessary for this.
(e) Especially in a male there may be difficulty
passing urine and a tube may need to be
inserted into the bladder until the bladder can
empty normally.
(f) A weakness can occur in the wound with
complete or incomplete, bursting of the wound
in the short term, or a hernia in the long term.
(g) In some people healing of the wound may be
abnormal and the wound can be thickened and
red and the wound may be painful.
(h) Adhesions (bands of scar tissue) may form and
cause bowel obstruction. This can be a short
term or a long term complication and may need
further surgery.
(i) Increased risk in obese people of wound
infection, chest infection, heart and lung
complications and thrombosis.
(j) Increased risk in smokers of wound and chest
infections, heart and lung complications and
thrombosis.