complications of large bowel surgery
Last reviewed 01/2018
Early complications of large bowel surgery include:
- faecal contamination, caused by: - perforation prior to operation - faecal spillage during operation - postoperative leakage, for example anastomotic
- infection - large bowel surgery has always been associated with a high risk of post-operative infection which has now reduced because of the use of preoperative bowel cleansing and prophylactic antibiotics. When they occur, complications include: - wound infection - intraperitoneal abscess - generalised peritonitis
- damage to other organs, e.g. ureters, bladders, spleen
- stomal problems - retraction or sloughing
Late complications include:
- diarrhoea due to shortened bowel
- impotence due to division of parasympathetic nerves
- obstruction of the small bowel - adhesions, or tangling of the small bowel with ileostomy or colostomy