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The colon, the large intestine, serves as a passageway and holding station for food waste as it moves out of the body. There are several conditions that can affect the colon, such as inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulosis, polyps, and benign and malignant tumors. When medical therapy for these diseases is inappropriate or fails, a colon resection–surgery that removes part of the intestine–may be recommended.

Presurgical preparation for colon resection involves complete emptying of the colon and rectum. This can be accomplished through a clear liquid diet, laxatives, enemas, and a special drink ordered by the doctor. If the surgeon’s instructions are not carefully followed, the operation may have to be postponed.

Two Types of Colon Resection Surgery

Colon resection may be done as "open" surgery or by using a laparoscopic method. With laparoscopy, a thin, telescope-like instrument attached to a camera, is inserted into the abdominal cavity. The camera can view the intestine and surrounding areas; the picture is transmitted onto a television monitor. The incision for the laparoscope is small—about 1/4 inch to 1 inch— as are the four or five other openings made for insertion of specially designed surgical instruments. The surgeon locates the diseased portion of the intestine, removes it, and sutures the intestine back together.

"Open" surgery requires making a large incision to access the colon. Then, the diseased portion of the intestine is located and removed, and the organ is sutured back together.

The laparoscopic procedure enables most patients to leave the hospital and resume regular activities sooner than the conventional surgery. Generally, patients who have had the laparoscopic colon resection are discharged within 3 to 4 days and recuperate within 2 or 3 weeks. With the "open" technique, patients are hospitalized between 5 to 8 days and may face a 6-week recovery period. There is also less pain anticipated with laparoscopic colon resection than with the traditional surgery, and patients may experience a quicker return to solid foods and to regular bowel function.

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