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Large bowel resection - discharge

Ascending colectomy - discharge; Descending colectomy - discharge; Transverse colectomy - discharge; Right hemicolectomy - discharge; Left hemicolectomy - discharge; Hand assisted bowel surgery - discharge; Low anterior resection - discharge; Sigmoid colectomy - discharge; Subtotal colectomy - discharge; Colon resection - discharge; Laparoscopic colectomy - discharge; Colectomy - partial - discharge; Colon cancer - bowel resection discharge

You had surgery to remove all or part of your large intestine (large bowel). You may also have had a colostomy. This article describes what to expect after surgery and how to take care of yourself at home.

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When You're in the Hospital

During and after surgery, you received intravenous (IV) fluids. You also may have had a tube placed through your nose and into your stomach. You may have received antibiotics.

What to Expect at Home

You may have these problems after you return home from the hospital:

Self-care

Follow your health care provider's instructions for how to take care of yourself at home.

Activity:

Your provider will prescribe pain medicines for you to take at home.

Press a pillow over your incision when you need to cough or sneeze. This helps ease the pain.

Ask your provider when you should start taking your regular medicines again after surgery.

Wound Care

If your staples or sutures have been removed, you will probably have Steri-Strips (small pieces of tape) placed across your incision. These pieces of tape will fall off on their own. If your incision was closed with a dissolving suture, you may have glue covering the incision. This glue will loosen and come off on its own. Or, it can be peeled off after a few weeks.

Ask your provider when you can shower or soak in a bathtub.

If you have a dressing, your provider will tell you how often to change it and when you can stop using it.

Do not wear tight clothing that rubs against your wound while it is healing. Use a thin gauze pad over it to protect it if needed.

If you have a colostomy, follow care instructions from your provider. Sitting on a pillow may make you more comfortable if part of the surgery was performed through your rectum.

Diet

Eat small amounts of food several times a day. Don't eat 3 big meals.

Some foods may cause gas, loose stools, or constipation as you recover. Avoid foods that cause problems.

If you become sick to your stomach or have diarrhea, call your provider.

Ask your provider how much fluid you should drink each day to prevent getting dehydrated.

If you have hard stools:

Returning to Work

Return to work only when you feel ready. These tips may help:

When to Call the Doctor

Contact your provider if you have any of the following:

Related Information

Large bowel resection
Crohn disease
Ulcerative colitis
Intestinal obstruction and Ileus
Colorectal cancer
Colostomy
Surgical wound care - open
Bland diet
Ileostomy - caring for your stoma
Ileostomy - changing your pouch
Getting out of bed after surgery
Low-fiber diet
Changing your ostomy pouch
Full liquid diet

References

Galandiuk S, Netz U, Morpurgo E, Tosato SM, Abu-Freha N, Ellis CT. Colon and rectum. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 52.

Smith SF, Duell DJ, Martin BC, Gonzalez L, Aebersold M. Perioperative care. In: Smith SF, Duell DJ, Martin BC, Gonzalez L, Aebersold ML, eds. Clinical Nursing Skills: Basic to Advanced Skills. 9th ed. New York, NY: Pearson; 2017:chap 26.

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Review Date: 8/22/2022  

Reviewed By: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, General Surgery Practice Specializing in Breast Cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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