Understanding What Surgery For Colitis Involves

For the vast majority of people diagnosed with colitis

, the prospect of surgery will never have to be addressed though that does not stop many from worrying about this unlikely scenario. For some though, it is something that has to be faced, often as a consequence of continuous symptoms. It is therefore important that there is an understanding of the procedure involved with surgery for colitis.

When it comes to the initial surgical treatment it is really straight forward. Unfortunately there are no choices to make of the available types of surgical procedures involved. There is only one and it is called a total colectomy where the entire large colon is removed. The result of such a procedure is that colitis is in fact removed and thus the sufferer is cured. But that is only part of the story as the challenge is now to ensure a comfortable system is put in place for the removal of body waste.

As the entire large colon is removed irrespective of how much of it is actually diseased, the process of eliminating waste obviously has to alter. The function of the large colon is that of a storage area for the waste to be held whilst the process of water being reabsorbed into the body is undertaken. Without the benefit of a large colon the waste that is eliminated will take on a more liquid form and is passed through an ileostomy and, after further available surgical procedure, the anus by way of a specially formed internal pouch.

An ileostomy is formed by creating a small opening in the abdominal wall and the end of the small intestine is brought out. Waste then drains automatically into a specially fitted bag that sticks against the abdomen and can easily be emptied when it fills. The bag is in fact unnoticable under clothes and only those that have been told will be aware of its existence. A variation of this, though much less frequently created is when a continent ostomy is formed. This is where an internal pouch is formed under the abdominal wall for the purpose of waste collection and a valve is created on the abdominal wall through which a rigid tube is in order to drain the pouch.

These measures can either be permanent or for the majority of patients just temporary whilst the body recovers from the first operation before the creation of a permanent ileo-anal pouch. The procedure involves the end part of the small intestine being cut open and stitched back to form what is called a J pouch. This will then be placed into the space where the rectum used to be to enable the retention of waste in the pouch until elimination is required by way of through the anus.

There is a good track record of success for such a surgical procedure and the patient will, when used to the workings of the pouch and after having seen the capacity of it increase, have approximately six to eight movements per twenty four hours. By using appropriate medication and care with diet, the frequency can be reduced to perhaps three to four times per twenty four hour period. There are however some patients where the pouch does not function properly and bowel incontinence becomes a big problem or that the body rejects the surgery. In such cases, the operative procedure can be reversed and the patient will then have a permanent ileostomy.

Whilst surgery for colitis does have to be faced by a minority of sufferers, it does not mean a very restrictive life has to follow. In fact, most patients find that they can reclaim their life and enjoy one as close to normal as possible, a scenario that was often denied them during the period of their own colitis diagnosis.

by: Michael Tasker

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