After discussing your colon problem, you and your doctor may decide that laparoscopic treatment is right for you. How well you prepare can affect the success of surgery. Make sure you understand all instructions your doctor gives you. If you’re unclear about what to do, be sure to ask. To help prepare your body, you will be instructed on what to do before surgery. Follow these instructions carefully. Ask questions if something is unclear.

Preparing a Few Weeks Before Surgery

• Have a medical checkup. Have a thorough physical exam before surgery, as instructed by your doctor. This checks the health of your heart and lungs.
• Ask about medications. Tell your surgeon about all medications you take, and ask whether you should stop taking any of them. This includes prescription medications, aspirin, ibuprofen, and other over-the-counter drugs. Also, be sure to mention any herbs or supplements you take.
• Quit smoking. If you smoke, do your best to quit now. Smoking increases your risks during surgery and slows healing.

Preparing the Day Before Surgery

• Have only clear liquids. You will be told not to eat any solid foods and to drink only clear liquids on the day before surgery. These liquids include broth, plain tea, gelatin, and clear fruit juice. Any liquid that you can see through when it’s held up to the light is considered clear.
• Do your bowel prep. To be sure your colon is clear of stool, you’ll do a bowel prep the day before surgery. This involves drinking a liquid laxative, taking pills, using enemas, or using a combination of these methods. Ask your surgeon how many hours before surgery the bowel prep must be completed.
• Make sure your stomach is empty. Do not have anything to eat or drink, including water and chewing gum, after midnight the night before surgery. If you take any medication on a regular basis, ask your surgeon if you should take it during this time. If so, take the pills with small sips of water. 

The Day of Surgery

When you arrive at the hospital, you will be asked fill out certain forms. You will then change into a gown. An IV (intravenous) line will be inserted into your arm. This provides fluids and medications. You’ll meet with your anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist to discuss the medication that helps you sleep during surgery. Ask any questions you have at this time. Before surgery begins, you’ll be given general anesthesia to put you into a deep sleep. A soft tube called a catheter may be placed into your bladder to drain urine.

During Your Surgery

• Your doctor makes several small incisions.
• A laparoscope (a thin telescope-like tube) is then placed into 1 of the small incisions. This allows your doctor to view the colon on a video monitor.
• The surgical tools are placed into the other incisions. (A larger incision may be made later to remove a part of the colon.)
• The problem part of the colon is resected (removed). Sometimes the 2 ends of the colon are joined. This is called an anastomosis.
• Once surgery is done, you’ll be taken to a recovery room.

Possible incision sites

Types of Colon Resection

The idea of having part of your colon removed may sound scary. But part or all of the colon can be resected (removed) without causing serious problems. After the section of bowel is removed, the 2 ends are then reconnected (anastomosis). Below are some of the surgeries that can be performed on the colon. The type of surgery depends on the location of the colon problem.

After certain types of surgery the colon and rectum may need to be kept clear of stool while they heal. In other cases, the rectum has been removed or can't be reconnected to the rest of the colon. In either case, a colostomy is needed. This creates a new opening in the abdomen so waste can leave the body. You may need the new opening for a short time or permanently. Your health care provider will help you learn how to care for it. 

Right Hemicolectomy: Part or all of the ascending (right side) colon is removed. The remaining colon is then reconnected to the small intestine.	Left Hemicolectomy: Part or all of the descending (left side) colon is removed. The remaining colon is then reconnected to the rectum.
Sigmoid Colectomy (Sigmoidectomy): Part or all of the sigmoid colon is removed. The descending colon is then reconnected to the rectum.	Segmental Resection: One or more short segments of colon are removed. The remaining ends of the colon are reconnected.