The colon is the part of the digestive system where some nutrients and water are absorbed. Sometimes the colon must be operated on because it has become damaged, infected, or cancerous. One way of operating on the colon is using laparoscopy, also known as "keyhole" surgery. This type of procedure requires smaller incisions, which reduces the risk of developing certain complications and side effects.
Infection
One risk of keyhole colon surgery is infection of the surgical site. The main culprit for this type of infection is bacteria that can get into the surgical incision. Although the surgery is done in as sterile an environment as possible, infection is a serious risk. Sometimes the infection is limited to the surface of the incisions as they're healing, leading to swelling, pain and redness. Other times, the bacteria can get much deeper into the abdominal tissue, where they can cause severe pain, inflammation and potentially damage the intestines or other organs.
Blood Clots
Another potential side effect of keyhole colon surgery is the development of blood clots. The red blood cells in the body often clot when they encounter damaged tissue, or when they are in an area where there is very slow blood flow. Keyhole colon surgery can cause both of these conditions, because blood vessels can become damaged during the surgical procedure and patients are typically physically inactive during the recovery process. This is a major concern for the veins in the legs, which rely on contraction of the surrounding leg muscles to keep the blood moving. Clots can form in the legs of patients recovering from surgery and then break off and migrate to the lungs, causing a potentially life-threatening condition called a pulmonary embolism.
Tissue Damage
Although surgeons are generally very careful when performing keyhole colon surgery, there's a risk that some of the structures in the abdomen can become damaged. Damaged blood vessels can cause internal bleeding. Nerves in the abdomen can also become damaged or severed, leading to paralysis of abdominal muscles or problems with intestinal function. Finally, sometimes when the colon is sewn back together, there can be some leakage that can cause intense abdominal pain and inflammation. The intestines contain bacteria that can then spread into the abdominal cavity and cause a massive infection.
