About this topic
The doctor removes part of your small bowel during this procedure. You may have all or just part of it taken out. Normally, the small bowel connects the stomach to your large bowel. As food passes through the small bowel, the body takes in nutrition. This procedure is done to treat problems like: ‚
- Bleeding
- Blockage in the bowel
- Cancer tumors or polyps
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Ulcers
In most cases, the doctor takes out the part of the small bowel with the problem. Then, the doctor puts the ends back together. Sometimes, the doctor removes a large amount of your bowel. Then, your doctor may need to bring one end of the small intestine out and attach it to your skin. The new opening in the skin is a stoma or ostomy. The procedure is an ileostomy. Talk to your doctor about what treatment you may need. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you understand everything the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do. Talk to your doctor about:
- How to care for your ostomy if you have one. You will need to learn how to change the ostomy bag. This bag is most often short-term and collects your bowel contents. It gives your bowel a chance to rest. Sometimes, the ileostomy will be long-lasting.
- How to care for your cut sites.
- If you need to change your eating habits.
- If you take drugs that are time-released or time-sustained. Your doctor will need to switch these drugs to a different form (immediate-release drugs) while you are recovering from surgery.
- When you may bathe or shower.
- If you need to limit your activity.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent or fight an infection
- Keep your stool soft
Will physical activity be limited?
Physical activities may be limited for a while. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- Ask your doctor or dietitian for a diet plan. Your doctor may suggest a liquid or soft diet until your bowel is stable and ready for regular food.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of clear liquids each day.
- Eat 5 to 8 small meals a day instead of 3 large meals, as you are able.
- Avoid beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) and caffeine.
What problems could happen?
- Bleeding inside your belly
- Pain
- Infection
- Damage to nearby organs
- Ends of the bowel that are sewn together come open
- Scar tissue causes blockage of the bowel
- Short bowel syndrome
- Loose stools
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine or not able to pass urine, wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Not able to pass stool or gas
- Very upset stomach or throwing up
- Very bad belly pain
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have an upset stomach, throwing up, or am not able to pass stool or gas.
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚