What is Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy?
A surgical procedure to remove one side of the colon is called hemicolectomy. A right hemicolectomyinvolves removing the right side of the colon and attaching the small intestine to the remaining portion of the colon
Why Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy is done?
Some common conditions treated by a right hemicolectomy include:
- cancer of colon
- trauma or injury to abdominal area
- inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
- polyps, or tissue growths in colon that can become cancerous
- diverticulitis, which happens when diverticula (small pouches) incolon get infected or inflamed
How Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy is done ?
To remove part of your colon, your surgeon will likely begin by making a few small incisions in your abdominal area. This is known as laparoscopic or keyhole surgery. After making the incisions, your surgeon will remove the affected part of your colon. They’ll also remove any parts of your intestines directly connected to the part of your colon being removed, such as the end of the small intestine or part of the rectum. They’ll remove any lymph nodes and blood vessels that are connected to your colon too. Once the affected part of your colon is removed, the rest of your colon is connected to the end of your small intestine. This rejoining is known as anastomosis.
In the case that your surgeon can’t rejoin your colon to another part of your digestive tract, they may join your colon to your abdominal skin. This is called a stoma, and you may need to wear a bag on your abdomen to store your waste after the surgery. Based on your surgery, this solution may be temporary or permanent.
Post operative recovery
Recovery from a hemicolectomy depends on whether the procedure is laparoscopic or open surgery. However, recovery is likely to take 1–2 months. A person's underlying health condition may also affect recovery. In many instances, a hemicolectomy without complications requires a hospital stay of 3–7 days.
What should I do to take care of myself after Right Hemicolectomy ?
Following right hemicolectomy, you will be given pain medication to keep you comfortable. You are allowed to eat, and encouraged to move around and walk as soon as you are able. You will be discharged 2-5 days after laparoscopic right hemicolectomy and 5-7 days after open surgery.A person should notify if they experience any of the following during their recovery.
Thesesymptoms could indicate complications:
- diarrhea or constipation that lasts for a few days
- fever of 100˚F (37.8˚C) or higher
- irritation or pus around the cuts in abdomen
- pain in abdominal area that doesn’t stop with medication
Other complications can include:
- leakage around the area where colon was rejoined
- bloodclots in lungs or legs during or after surgery
- infections
- damage to organs surrounding colon
- blockage incolon due to scar tissue
Advantages of laproscopicRight Hemicolectomy
The laparoscopic procedure has several benefits:
- Small surgical incisions
- Less scaring
- Less post-operative pain
- Shorter hospital stay and faster recovery