5 Facts About Rectal Resections

Here are five facts you need to know about rectal resections. A rectal resection is the removal of a part of the rectum due to cancer or other disease such as ulcerative colitis. Crohn's disease, and diverticulitis.

1. Days before surgery, the patient is placed on a restricted diet. This pre-op diet may consist of preparations you must drink to cleanse the bowel, and anti-infective drugs or antibiotics to cleanse bacteria from the bowel and reduce risk of post-op infections. Twenty four hours before surgery you will only be allowed to have clear liquids, and after midnight you will not be permitted to eat or drink anything.
2. If the diseased part of the rectum is found to not be very large, then the diseased part is removed, and the separated parts are reattached.  This surgical procedure is called rectal anastomosis.
3. If the diseased part of the rectum is found to be large, then a colostomy is performed. In this procedure, the distal end of the rectum is closed off, and the proximal end is brought through an opening in the stomach, where feces is removed via a pouch worn over the stoma or opening.
4. Risk factors for rectal resection are similar to any surgical procedure. These include excessive bleeding, infection, risk of blood clots and stroke,and anastomosis leakage.
5. Patients are usually discharged in two to four days after surgery. Complete recovery from a rectal resection takes about six to eight weeks if there are no complications.