About Colectomy
Key Highlights
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Definitive Treatment: Offers a curative solution for colorectal cancer and severe inflammatory conditions.Minimally Invasive Options: Laparoscopic and robotic techniques lead to smaller scars, reduced pain, and quicker recovery.Symptom Relief: Effectively alleviates chronic pain, bleeding, and bowel dysfunction caused by the underlying disease.listrongPreventive Measure:/strong Can prevent complications like bowel perforation, obstruction, or cancer progression./lilistrongImproved Quality of Life:/strong For many patients, it resolves debilitating symptoms, allowing a return to normal activities./li/ul
Who is this surgery for?
- Colorectal Cancer: Primary treatment for tumors located in the colon.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): For severe, medication-resistant ulcerative colitis or complications of Crohn's disease.
- Diverticulitis: For recurrent episodes, abscesses, fistulas, or perforation.
- Bowel Obstruction: Due to scar tissue, tumors, or other blockages.
- Precancerous Conditions: Such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) to prevent cancer.
- Bowel Ischemia: Severe loss of blood flow causing tissue death in the colon.
- Trauma or Injury: To the colon from an accident.
How to prepare
- Medical Evaluation: Comprehensive assessment including blood tests, imaging (CT scan), and colonoscopy.
- Bowel Preparation: A clear liquid diet and prescribed laxatives or enemas to empty the colon.
- Medication Review: Adjusting or stopping blood thinners, anti-inflammatories, and certain supplements as advised.
- Pre-operative Counseling: Discussion with the surgeon and stoma nurse (if a stoma is possible) about the procedure and recovery.
- Fasting: No food or drink for 8-12 hours before surgery.
- Smoking Cessation: Strongly recommended to improve healing and reduce complications.
Risks & possible complications
- Bleeding and Infection: At the surgical site or internally.
- Anastomotic Leak: A leak from the reconnection site of the intestines, a serious complication.
- Blood Clots: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism.
- Adhesions: Scar tissue that can cause future bowel obstructions.
- Injury to Nearby Organs: Such as the bladder, ureters, or small intestine.
- Stoma-related Issues: If created, may include skin irritation, herniation, or narrowing.
- Changes in Bowel Habits: Diarrhea, constipation, or urgency, which often improve over time.
- Anesthesia Risks: Reactions to anesthesia medications.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Hospital Stay: Monitoring for complications, pain management, and gradual introduction of liquids and soft foods.
- Pain Management: Controlled with IV and later oral medications.
- Early Mobilization: Encouraged to walk soon after surgery to prevent clots and boost recovery.
- Incision Care: Keeping the surgical site clean and dry, watching for signs of infection.
- Dietary Progression: A gradual return to a normal diet, often starting with bland, low-fiber foods.
- Activity Restrictions: Avoiding heavy lifting (more than 10 lbs) and strenuous exercise for several weeks.
- Follow-up Appointments: Essential for monitoring healing, managing any stoma care, and discussing pathology results.
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Typical hospital stay: 5-10 days
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Expected recovery time: 4-6 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering colectomy in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for colectomy in India include Miot Hospital Chennai, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform colectomy. MediFyr helps you compare surgical gastroenterologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for colectomy compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Colectomy in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated surgical gastroenterology teams and experience managing patients undergoing colectomy.
Saanvi Bhatia, a 58-year-old high school...
Saanvi Bhatia, a 58-year-old high school biology teacher, had been struggling with ulcerative colitis for over a decade. Her symptoms, debilitating abdominal cramps, urgent bloody diarrhea, and profound fatigue, had become unmanageable despite multiple medications. Flares were forcing her to take frequent sick leave, disrupting her beloved classroom. Her surgical gastroenterologist, Dr. Chen, recommended a total colectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (J-pouch) after a colonoscopy confirmed severe, precancerous dysplasia throughout her colon. Saanvi was terrified of such a major, life-altering surgery. The procedure went smoothly, though the immediate recovery in the hospital was challenging as she learned to manage her new temporary ileostomy. After a second surgery three months later to connect her J-pouch, her recovery was gradual but steady. A year post-op, Saanvi has her life back. She controls her bowel movements, has regained her energy, and is back teaching full-time. Emotionally, she moved from fear and grief over losing a part of her body to immense relief and gratitude. She no longer lives in fear of the next flare or the bathroom, and she feels a profound sense of resilience.
Surgical Gastroenterologists for Colectomy
Explore experienced surgical gastroenterologists who regularly perform colectomy and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 35 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 10 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 33 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
- 19 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 17 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 16 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 25 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, vijayawada
- 11 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, vijayawada
- 16 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore
- 13 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore
- 13 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Manipal Hospital Jayanagar, Bangalore
- 12 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Manipal Hospital Jayanagar, Bangalore
- 30 Years Experience
- Gastroenterologist
SIMS Hospital Vadapalani, Chennai
- 25 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
SIMS Hospital Vadapalani, Chennai
- 29 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
SIMS Hospital Vadapalani, Chennai
- 18 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Manipal Hospital Hebbal, Bangalore
- 22 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Kamineni Hospital, Tadigadapa, vijayawada
- 4 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist
Kamineni Hospital, King Koti, Hyderabad
- 14 Years Experience
- Surgical Gastroenterologist