Crohn's disease is a disorder of the digestive tract causing the intestines to become inflamed and painful. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse or NDDIC, two-thirds to three-quarters of people suffering from Crohn's disease will require surgical intervention. Crohn's disease can affect either sex and tends to run in families with 20 percent of patients having a blood relative with the disease.
Indications
Surgery for Crohn's disease is required when non-invasive interventions no longer provide relief. NDDIC states health care providers will attempt to treat patients with medications and nutritional supplements first. If the colon becomes blocked, infected, starts to bleed excessively or ruptures, surgery will be done. According to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, or CCFA, health care providers suggest surgery in order to relieve adverse side effects, increase patient quality of life and maintain as much healthy colon as possible.
Types of Surgery
The type of surgery performed will depend on the area of the digestive tract involved and the exact problem occurring. The different surgeries performed may consist of strictureplasty, or widening or stretching of a narrow area in the gastrointestinal tract; resection or partial removal of the colon; colectomy or removal of the entire colon; proctocolectomy in which both the colon and rectum are removed; ileostomy in which a portion of the bowel is brought up to the abdominal wall to create an opening, or stoma; and procedures to drain and irrigate infected areas and abnormal tunneling in the bowel.
What to Expect
According to the Encyclopedia of Surgery, patients recovering from colon surgery of any type can expect similar recovery scenarios. Patients undergoing general anesthesia, or being put to sleep will require close monitoring. The presence of an abdominal incision and pain will keep patients from taking adequate breaths or moving. Health care providers will encourage deep breathing, coughing and as soon as possible, ambulation or walking. Pain medication will be made available as necessary. Tubes coming from the nose or abdomen should be expected, as well as, intravenously lines providing fluid by way of veins in the arm. Most patients can expect to go home in two to four days.
Complications
Encyclopedia of Surgery reports all surgery presents some type of risk. Patients should report the following surgical complications to a health care provider: increased pain, swelling, redness, drainage or bleeding from the surgical area; flu-like symptoms such as headache, muscle pain, high temperature and dizziness and abdominal swelling, constipation, nausea, vomiting or black, tarry stools.
Recurrence
Surgery will not cure Crohn's disease and most people have repeat procedures performed. CCFA reports that approximately 50 percent of patients have symptoms of Crohn's disease return within five years of surgery. Taking medications such as prescribed anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressants can reduce the chances of the active disease returning.
