• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Small bowel resection

• Overview
• Recovery
• Risks

Definition:

Small bowel resection is surgery to remove part of your small bowel, which is located between your stomach and large bowel (large intestine). The small bowel is also called the small intestine. It is where most digestion occurs.

Alternative Names:

Small intestine surgery; Bowel resection - small intestine; Resection of part of the small intestine

Description:

Small bowel resection is done while you are under general anesthesia (unconscious and pain-free). The surgeon makes a cut in the abdomen and removes the diseased parts of the small intestine. The two healthy ends of the intestine are sewn or stapled back together (resected). The cut in the abdomen is closed.

To help the small intestine heal, a procedure called an ostomy may be done. An opening (stoma) is for the intestine is created through the abdominal wall. The healthy end of the intestine near the stomach is moved through the abdominal wall and stitched in place. A drainage bag (also called a stoma appliance) is placed around the opening.

In most cases, the stoma is temporary and can be closed with another operation at a later date. If a large part of the bowel is removed, the stoma may be permanent.

The small intestine normally absorbs fluid from food. With an ostomy, you will have liquid stool (feces) collect in the drainage bag. The frequent drainage of liquid stool can cause the skin around the ostomy to become red and swollen. Careful skin care and a well-fitting stoma appliance can reduce this irritation.

Indications:

Small bowel resection may be recommended for the following:

• A block in the intestine due to scar tissue or deformities
• Bleeding, infection, or ulcers due to inflammation of the small intestine ( regional ileitis , regional enteritis , Crohn's disease )
• Injuries
• Cancer
• Precancerous polyps
• Benign tumors

• Review Date: 10/16/2006
• Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.