Resection Surgery for Crohn's Disease

When medications aren't working effectively in managing the symptoms of Crohn's disease (a type of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD), a gastroenterologist may recommend surgery. The most common form of surgery used to treat Crohn's disease is called a resection. Surgery is not a failure of other therapies but a legitimate type of treatment. Many people with Crohn's disease will need surgery to manage their IBD or complications.

During surgery, short segments of the large intestine or the small intestine affected by Crohn's disease are removed, and the intestine is reattached using the two healthy ends. Resections are typically performed by a colorectal surgeon, a type of surgeon who has special training in surgery of the lower digestive tract and who may specialize in inflammatory diseases of the bowel.

In some cases, surgery can put a person with Crohn's disease into what's sometimes called surgical remission, which is a period of few or no symptoms. Facing surgery is always difficult, but with Crohn's disease, a resection can mean a chance to heal. People with Crohn's disease who have concerns regarding surgery either now or in the future should talk with their healthcare team and consider a second opinion with another colon and rectal surgeon or gastroenterologist.

Goals of Resection Surgery

Resection surgery may be used to remove strictures (areas of the intestine that have narrowed). This could include one long stricture or a group of strictures that are close to one another. It also can remove severely diseased portions of the small or large intestine.

The goal of resection is to keep as much of the healthy bowel as possible and to only remove portions of the bowel that are beyond healing. Removing a large portion of the small intestine is avoided. The small intestine is where vitamins and minerals are absorbed into the body, and if too much of it is removed, it could lead to nutritional deficiencies.

In extreme cases, removing too much of the small intestine can lead to short bowel syndrome, in which your body is unable to absorb enough nutrients from food. Fortunately, this is rare.

How Is a Resection Done?

Colon surgery is done under general anesthesia. The surgery may be done either through an open or a laparoscopic approach, but open surgery is far more common. Laparoscopic surgery is typically used only in cases in which the diseased section of intestine is located in the ileum, and there are no other complications.

In open surgery, one large incision will be made. The diseased section of the bowel is clamped off and removed. After the diseased portion of the intestine is removed, the two healthy ends of intestine are attached together (called anastomosis).

In laparoscopic surgery, three to four small incisions are made. The abdomen is filled with gas so the surgeon can better see the abdominal cavity, and a camera is inserted through one of the incisions. The rest of the procedure is the same as in open surgery, in that the diseased bowel is removed and the healthy tissue is reattached.

Recovery

The hospital stay for an open surgery with no complications can be anywhere from five to 10 days. For laparoscopic surgery, the hospital stay tends to be shorter.

Recovery from resection surgery can take from six to eight weeks. Returning to work after surgery is a very individual decision, but it generally will be four weeks or more after the surgery. A surgeon will give instructions about activity level, but in general, heavy lifting, driving, and other strenuous activities should not be undertaken for at least several weeks after surgery.

Potential Complications

Potential complications include those that can occur with any surgery: infection, bleeding, or reaction to the anesthetic. With a resection, there is also a small risk that the two sections of joined intestine may split apart or leak (called dehiscence), though this is not common.

Is Resection Surgery Used for Ulcerative Colitis?

Partial resection of the colon is not typically used to treat ulcerative colitis. This is because the colitis tends to return in the healthy section of the colon that is left. A total colectomy, with the creation of an internal pouch (a j-pouch) or an ileostomy, are the surgeries most often used to treat ulcerative colitis.

A Word From Verywell

Most people find their health improves after having a resection for Crohn's disease. It's important to follow the surgeon's instructions and to continue to take medications after surgery to help prevent the Crohn's from causing more inflammation.