Do not fear intestinal surgery if you are not yet aware of this

 

Setting aside congenital issues, there are mainly two significant categories:

 

● Patients affected by abdominal accidents leading to ruptures or perforations in the intestines or threats to the blood vessels supplying the intestines. If diagnosed as needing surgery, this should be performed as swiftly as possible.

● Patients with intestinal diseases are usually first treated with medications or non-surgical approaches. However, if the condition cannot be managed with drugs, such as appendicitis, or when some diseases do not improve with medication, surgery becomes necessary. Conditions such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease or intestinal tuberculosis are initially managed with drugs, but if, after medication treatment, patients still suffer from severe symptoms, including intestinal obstruction, bleeding, or intense abdominal pain, surgery is required. In cases of colorectal cancer, the primary treatment involves surgically removing the cancerous section of the intestine unless the cancer has spread to other body parts and cannot be fully excised, where chemotherapy becomes the main course of treatment.

 

Surgeons aim to minimize potential adverse effects. The goal of intestinal surgery is to remove any disease or pathological condition from the patient's body and make them to a state as normal as possible. Potential immediate post-operative complications include leaks at the intestinal joints, infection or inflammation at the surgical site, and internal bleeding, among others. These conditions, however, are very unlikely to occur as surgeons are always cautious to avoid such complications.

 

Long-term post-operative complications could involve intestinal obstruction due to scars or adhesions in the abdominal cavity. Additionally, changes in bowel habits might occur, such as more frequent or watery stools after certain surgeries, especially in lower intestinal operations near the anus, leading to a temporary inability to control bowel movements and multiple bowel movements. These symptoms should alleviate and return to normal within six months to a year post-surgery.

 

Patients needing immediate surgery due to accidents, such as internal bleeding or ruptured intestines, risk death from bleeding or abdominal infections if surgery is postponed.

Patients with intestinal diseases who initially refuse surgery, resulting in delayed operations, may face more complications and disease progression, making treatment increasingly difficult and complex. Moreover, the return to normal life is prolonged. Instead of receiving timely surgery, the delay extends the treatment duration, and recovery post-surgery also takes longer.

For cancer patients, if the cancer is not treated, and the surgery is not performed, the cancer can spread further, enlarging the mass in the intestine to obstruct the digestive tract, potentially causing intestinal blockage, rupture, or bleeding, making surgery more complicated. Cancer patients facing intestinal blockage or rupture may require ostomy through emergency surgery, a less likely outcome for those receiving timely surgical intervention.

 

Nowadays, with advanced technology, surgical techniques, and modern equipment, coupled with the expertise of specialized surgeons, the risk of surgery-related complications has significantly decreased compared to the past. Scars are smaller, the injury is less severe, and the post-operative recovery period is shorter. Post-surgery scarring or adhesions in the abdominal cavity are also reduced, enabling patients to quickly resume their daily activities, eat normally, and regain regular bowel movements. Thus, there's no need to worry if a doctor determines surgery is necessary for efficient, prompt, and timely treatment.