Bowel resection 

Surgical procedure for intestinal health

Bowel resection is a surgical procedure designed to remove a portion of the gut, which can include either the small or large intestine. This surgery is typically indicated when a section of the bowel is damaged, blocked, or affected by diseases such as cancer, Crohn’s disease, or diverticulitis.

During the bowel resection procedure, the unhealthy portion of the bowel is carefully removed, and the two healthy ends are then sewn or stapled back together.

The primary goal of this surgery is to relieve symptoms, prevent complications, and address serious conditions affecting the bowel. Recovery usually requires some time in the hospital, and normal bowel function gradually returns as healing progresses.

For individuals facing bowel-related health issues, bowel resection serves as an important intervention to restore intestinal function and overall well-being.

Who is a Candidate?

Patients requiring removal of part of the small or large intestine due to disease, obstruction, or damage.
Common indications include:

• Colorectal cancer or small bowel tumours
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis with severe or refractory disease
• Bowel obstruction from adhesions, volvulus (twisting) or strictures
• Diverticular disease with complications (perforation, abscess, fistula)
• Ischaemic bowel (loss of blood supply)
• Traumatic bowel injury.

Recovery Timeline

This is likely to vary with provider.

• Hospital stay: Usually 5–10 days, depending on surgical approach and bowel function recovery
  • Laparoscopic surgery: often shorter stay and quicker recovery
  • Open surgery: longer stay and more postoperative pain
• Return to light activities: 4–6 weeks (laparoscopic) or 6–8 weeks (open)
• Full recovery: 6–12 weeks, depending on extent of resection and overall health
• Bowel habits: may take weeks to months to stabilise.

Some patients may require a temporary or permanent stoma (colostomy/ileostomy) depending on the site and nature of resection.

Benefits

• Removes diseased or cancerous bowel, potentially curative
• Relieves obstruction or bleeding
• Improves symptoms (pain, diarrhoea, constipation)
• Restores bowel continuity when possible after temporary diversion
• Can improve quality of life in chronic conditions like IBD or diverticulitis.

Risks

• Bleeding, infection, or ‘anastomotic leak’ (leak at the join between the ends of the bowel)
• Bowel obstruction from adhesions or scar tissue
• Ileus (temporary paralysis of bowel movement)
• Stoma complications (if formed): skin irritation, prolapse, or blockage
• Nutritional deficiencies if large portions of bowel are removed (especially small intestine)
• General surgical risks: deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, or wound complications.

This is just an outline. Your specialist surgeon will be able to talk to you about these issues in more detail and make sure that there is informed consent.

Bowel resection is a major but often life-saving operation that removes diseased intestinal segments and restores function - success depends on the extent of the resection, surgical technique, and postoperative bowel recovery.