The procedure may be done with one of two methods :

TRADITIONAL OPEN INCISION

An incision will be made into the abdomen in the area of the diseased intestine.

LAPAROSCOPIC TECHNIQUE

A few small incisions will be made in the abdomen. Carbon dioxide gas will be pumped into the abdomen through an incision. A laparoscope (thin tube with a small camera on the end) and special tools will be inserted through the incisions. The laparoscope sends a view of the interior of the abdomen to a video monitor. In either type of surgery, the small intestine will be clamped above and below the diseased section. This section will be cut free and removed.

If there is enough healthy intestine left, the free ends of the intestine may be joined together. Otherwise, a permanent or temporary ileostomy is created. An ileostomy is an opening (called a stoma) in the abdomen. The end of the small intestine closest to the stomach is attached to the opening. This allows intestinal contents to drain into a sealed pouch on the outside of the body. If a temporary ileostomy is created, another operation will be necessary several months later to reverse it.

A catheter will be placed in your bladder before surgery. You will also have a nasogastric tube. This is a small tube that goes in through your nose and down into your stomach. The tube may be used to drain fluids from your stomach or to help deliver food to your stomach. The catheter and tube will remain until you are able to eat and go to the bathroom normally.

Surgical risks include blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs; breathing problems; bleeding inside your belly; heart attack or stroke; infection, including in the lungs, urinary tract, and belly; bulging tissue through the incision, called an incisional hernia; damage to nearby organs in the body; many episodes of diarrhea; problems with your ileostomy; scar tissue that forms in your belly and causes a blockage of your intestines; short bowel syndrome (when a large amount of the small intestine needs to be removed), which may lead to problems absorbing important nutrients and vitamins; the ends of your intestines that are sewn together comes apart (anastomotic leak – this may be life-threatening); wound breaking open (dehiscence) and wound infections.

COLORECTAL SURGERY:

A small area of colorectal cancer can usually be removed during colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy if it is confined to a very small area, such as a single polyp.

POLYPECTOMY:

A suspicious polyp can usually be removed during colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. Bowel Resection: to remove cancer cells and a portion of the surrounding tissue of the colon.