Colon cancer may be treated by the surgical removal of cancer cells. It's a potentially life-threatening condition, but most people survive if the diagnosis is made during the early stages of colon cancer and the malignant tumor is removed in time. Basically, perforated colon surgery is a safe procedure, according to the National Institutes of Health publication MedlinePlus; however, like any type of surgery, it also carries some risks.
Blood Clots
Blood clots that form in the legs are particularly severe complications associated with colon surgery. They occur due to inactivity during and after the surgery. When these blood clots break loose, they may travel through the bloodstream to the lungs. This is known as pulmonary embolism. People experience complications like chest pain and shortness of breath. Blood clots may also cause the legs and arms to swell.
Bowel Leak
Colonic anastomotic leak is the biggest disadvantage of colon surgery, as an article in the February 2007 journal "Annals of Surgery" noted. Incidences of anastomotic leakage occur when the edges of the resected colon that are sewn together do not heal. A more serious infection in the abdominal cavity occurs when the tear causes pus or bowel contents to leak out of the intestines into the abdomen. This abdominal infection also interferes with the bowel's natural ability to heal.
Bowel Obstruction
A small bowel obstruction is another common effect after colon resection for benign and malignant diseases. Scar tissue can occur in the belly immediately following a colon surgery or may not become apparent. Depending on how much scar tissue is there, a loop of bowel may become entrapped or strangulated in the scar tissue, leading to bowel adhesions. Sometimes, a minor operation helps relieve this small bowel obstruction.
