Abdominal surgery for Crohn's disease: definition • hello healthy

Definition

What is stomach surgery for Crohn's disease?

Surgery for Crohn's disease is a treatment option to relieve your symptoms. This procedure may involve removing or changing parts of your digestive organs. Surgery is usually recommended when medications and other treatments have failed.

Crohn's disease is inflammation of the intestines. This causes the walls of your intestines to thicken, which can block food from passing. Disturbed areas can experience interference in the absorption of nutrients from food. The small intestine is the part most commonly affected but any part of your intestine can also become inflamed. Some of the signs and symptoms may include:

abdominal pain and cramps
diarrhea
loss of weight
fatigue
fever

If left untreated, your symptoms may get worse and cause complications to your body. Talk with your doctor to discuss treatment options that are right for you.

You will most likely need surgery because part of your intestine is blocked. Some parts of the intestine in Crohn's disease go through a cycle of inflammation and repair. Over time, these parts of the intestine become hard. People with intestinal obstruction may experience vomiting, distension, and abdominal pain when they eat. If the blockage gets worse quickly, you may need emergency surgery.

You may also need surgery if you have:

fistula - an opening that forms in your intestine or between your intestines and other organs, such as the bladder
bleeding in your intestines
holes in your intestines
abscess - a pus-filled cavity that can form near the anal area or elsewhere

Precautions & warnings

What should I know before having stomach surgery for Crohn's disease?

Before having surgery for Crohn's disease, you should know the following:

your symptoms should subside further. Your doctor may also be able to reduce or stop your medication.
risks include leaking of your intestines, infection in your stomach, or infection near the wound from surgery, blood clots in your hands or feet, and short-term blockages in your intestines. You can also get "short stomach syndrome." This means that your intestines are too short to absorb all the nutrients you need.
Crohn's disease can be treated using medications, such as meclizine, steroids, azathioprine and infliximab. These medicines have side effects and your doctor and pharmacist will give you the right consultation
It's important to know that surgery doesn't cure Crohn's disease. After the diseased part of the intestine is removed, Crohn's may reappear in some other part of the intestine or elsewhere

It is important that you know the warnings and precautions before performing this operation. If you have any questions, consult your doctor for further information and instructions.

Process

What should I do before stomach surgery for Crohn's disease?

This operation is performed under general anesthesia. General anesthesia relaxes the muscles in your digestive tract and airway, which keeps food and acid in your stomach and not into your lungs. That is why, it is so important to follow your doctor's instructions on when to stop eating and drinking before surgery.

In most cases, you should start fasting about six hours before your procedure. You may be able to drink fluids up to several hours before your surgery.

Your doctor may ask you to use certain medications with a small sip of water during your fasting time. Discuss your medication with your doctor.

You should also talk to your doctor about your daily medications, supplements and other conditions of the body to prepare for surgery.

Your surgery depends on the location of the disease and its severity. There are several types of surgery. As:

strictureplasty, which is a surgical procedure to expand a narrow area of the small intestine in the affected area. No part of the intestine is removed
resection, which is the removal of the diseased part of the intestine
colectomy, which is the removal of the colon. The rectum is usually not affected. This section can be connected to the small intestine
proctocolectomy, which is the removal of the colon and rectum. The sewage drains into an external bag which must be emptied throughout the day.

You can go home after 5 to 10 days. It can take up to three months for you to fully recover. It is advisable to do the following:

follow post-operative instructions from your doctor
maintain a balanced diet. This includes foods from all major groups (whole grains, vegetables, fruit, dairy, and meat and nuts). After receiving a colectomy or proctolectomy, it is recommended to eat a low-fiber diet for the first 6 to 8 weeks
exercise regularly. This will help you to return to normal activities as quickly as possible. Before you start exercising, get your doctor's approval first.
drink lots of water. This will help you stay hydrated. You should aim to drink 8 to 10 glasses a day
eat regularly and don't skip meals. An empty stomach can produce gas
When adding new foods to your diet, try them with other foods that you know will be easy to digest
eat smaller, more frequent meals. Remember to always chew it thoroughly
You can eat rice, potatoes, or pasta once a day to reduce the frequency of bowel movements and irritation
limit foods that contain simple sugars. This can make diarrhea worse

If you have questions related to this test process, please consult your doctor for a better understanding.

Complications

There are several complications that may occur after having stomach surgery for Crohn's disease. These complications may include:

infection at the surgical site
The small intestine may experience blockage from food or from scar tissue. If the blockage is from food, it is usually temporary and will get better on its own as food moves through the intestines. If there is no discharge from the stoma for four to six hours, and is accompanied by symptoms of cramping and / or nausea, you may have a blockage. Tell your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms
inflammation. Symptoms may include diarrhea, stomach pain, cramps, increased frequency of bowel movements, fever, dehydration, and joint pain. This may require antibiotic treatment. Please consult your doctor
blockage of the small intestine. This can cause stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps
abscesses of the pelvis and fistula pockets. These complications are rare and will require additional treatment.

If you have any questions about possible complications, please consult your doctor for more information.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.