|  | Surgeries Operations | Surgeries

Cecal Volvulus Surgery Complications

Cecal volvulus occurs most frequently in persons of advanced age. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), volvulus is a condition in which the intestines twist onto itself, causing an obstruction. The cecum, where this condition often takes place, is the pouch in the large intestine that opens into the colon. Cecal volvulus surgery involves either a colonoscopy (an outpatient, same-day procedure) or a laparatomy (an inpatient, more complicated surgery). As with any other medical intervention, cecal volvulus surgery complications are possible.

  1. Bleeding After Colonoscopy

    • Colonoscopy involves the exploration of the colon through the use of a flexible tube with a camera at the end of it. As the tube makes its way through the colon from the rectum, the tube may encounter soft tissue that is delicate enough to bleed or get irritated. A person taking anticoagulants or with bleeding tendencies may bleed abnormally after the procedure. The physician performing the colonoscopy will treat the bleeding with medication or with an additional colonoscopy procedure.

    Perforated Colon

    • According to the NIH, about 1 in 1,000 colonoscopies run a risk of a complication in which the tube used for the colonoscopy accidentally perforates the colon. This is a serious complication, as the intestinal contents may spill into the abdominal cavity. Surgery is required in such cases, along with extensive antibiotic therapy to prevent infection.

    Infection

    • Infection is always a threat in any surgery. This is because microbes are everywhere in the environment and the most stringent infection control practices are not perfect. Also, the intestines have a large amount of bacteria which help us digest food but would cause infection if it spilled into any other area of the body. To guard against infection, a surgeon may opt to start a surgical patient on antibiotics before, during or after the surgery.

    Digestive Problems

    • Problems with digesting food can occur not only because of the volvulus but also because of any intervention to correct it. This may be because the intestine is damaged by the surgery, and scar tissue forms in and around it. Also, as the intestine is repaired or scar tissue forms, blood circulation may be cut off, leading to tissue death or gangrene of the intestine. Surgeons usually do not discharge a patient until the patient has had a normal bowel movement post-surgery.

    Other Complications

    • Any surgical intervention like a colonoscopy or a laparatomy (where the abdominal wall is surgically opened to repair the internal organs) requires some form of anesthesia. Certain people may develop an allergic reaction to anesthesics or to any of the other medications given during surgery. This is why it is very important to be open in discussing any previous medical history with the surgical staff before surgery. Nevertheless, the risks of surgery are far less than the risks from untreated cecal volvulus.

Surgeries - Related Articles