Small bowel resection is surgery to remove part of your small bowel, which is located between your stomach and large bowel (large intestine). The small bowel is also called the small intestine. It is where most digestion occurs.

Small bowel resection is performed while you are under general anesthesia. This means you are unconscious and pain-free. A cut is made in the abdomen. The diseased portions of the small intestine are removed. The two healthy ends of the intestine are sewn or stapled back together (resected). The cut in the abdomen is closed.

To help the small intestine heal, a procedure called an ostomy may be done. An opening called a stoma is made from the intestine through the abdominal wall. The healthy end of the intestine near the stomach is then passed through the abdominal wall, and stitched in place. A drainage bag (also called a stoma appliance) is placed around the opening.

In most cases, the stoma is temporary and can be closed with another operation at a later date. If a large portion of the bowel is removed, the stoma may be permanent.

The small intestine normally absorbs fluid from food. With an ostomy, you will have liquid stool (feces) collect in the drainage bag. The frequent drainage of liquid stool can cause the skin around the ostomy to become inflamed. Careful skin care and a well-fitting stoma appliance can reduce this irritation.

Small bowel resection may be recommended for the following:

• A block in the intestine due to scar tissue or deformities
• Bleeding, infection, or ulcers due to inflammation of the small intestine (regional ileitis, regional enteritis, Crohn's disease)
• Injuries
• Cancer
• Precancerous polyps
• Benign tumors

Risks for any anesthesia include the following:

• Reactions to medications
• Problems breathing

Risks for any surgery include the following:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Intestinal leaks

Additional risks include the following:

• Bulging through the incision (incisional hernia)
• Narrowing (stricture) of the opening (stoma)
• Blockage (obstruction) of the intestine from scar tissue

The outcome depends on the disease process being treated.

Following surgery on your small intestine, the length of hospital stay varies widely. It depends on the magnitude of the surgery and what other medical conditions you may have.