The National Cancer Institute projects colon cancer will affect over 100,000 Americans in 2010. Patients who develop this form of cancer may utilize colon cancer surgery, also called colectomy, as a form of treatment. The potential complications from colon cancer surgery should be discussed with a doctor before a patient undergoes this procedure.
Internal Organ Damage
Colon cancer surgery is a procedure during which a surgeon removes the part of the colon that contains cancerous growths or cells through an incision within the lower abdomen, rectum or anus. Once this portion of the cancerous intestine is removed, the surgeon attaches the two ends of the colon together with stitches to form an anastomosis, or connection, the American Cancer Society explains.
During surgery, a surgeon may accidentally injure the organs that surround the colon, such as the stomach, bladder, spleen or female reproductive organs, MedlinePlus warns. Internal organ damage complications from colon cancer surgery are generally detected by a surgeon during this procedure, allowing for prompt repair of the injured organ. In certain cases, internal organ damage may not be detected until after surgery and can lead to organ-specific complications, such as constipation, urine retention, abdominal pain or menstruation problems. Patients who develop complications from internal organ damage after colon cancer surgery may require additional surgery to locate and resolve the site of organ injury.
Anastomosis Breakdown and Infection
Infrequently, the connection point between the two ends of the colon, the anastomosis, may not heal correctly, the ACS reports. If this occurs, the contents of the colon can leak into a patient's abdominal cavity, causing an infection called peritonitis. Symptoms of peritonitis include abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, vomiting, fever and loss of appetite. Patients who experience anastomosis breakdown require immediate medical attention, as peritonitis can be lethal without appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Bleeding or Blood Clots
Patients can develop bleeding or blood clot complications from colon cancer surgery, the University of Chicago Medical Center warns. Bleeding complications are rare and may require additional surgery to stop the bleeding in affected patients. Blood clots that develop within the legs can cause pain, swelling or skin discoloration. If a blood clot detaches from a vein in the legs, it can travel to a patient's lungs in a life-threatening condition called pulmonary embolism. Patients who develop unusual bleeding or experience leg pain symptoms after colon cancer surgery should contact a doctor immediately for further guidance and care.
Incisional Hernia
Abdominal incisions made during colon cancer surgery weaken the abdominal wall. Consequently, a patient can develop an incisional hernia as a complication of this surgical procedure, MedlinePlus reports. An incisional hernia occurs when a portion of the digestive tract, such as the intestine, pushes through a weak part of the abdomen and forms a palpable mass along the site of incision.
Typically, a doctor can reduce an incisional hernia by manually pushing the protrusion back into place. If hernia reduction is unsuccessful, affected patients may require additional surgery to place the hernia back into the body.
Sexual Complications
Depending on the type of colon cancer surgery performed, a male patient can develop sexual complications after surgery, such as dry orgasms, retrograde ejaculation or impotence. Men who have dry orgasms experience pleasure during an orgasm, but do not ejaculate semen from the penis. Retrograde ejaculation occurs when ejaculate flows backwards into the bladder rather than out of the head of the penis.
Rarely, certain men may become impotent as a complication from colon cancer surgery, which means they have difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection during sexual stimulation. Women who undergo this surgical procedure typically do not experience sexual complications. Male patients who develop erection or ejaculation problems after surgery should consult a doctor.
