Abdominal surgery involves the area between the chest and pelvis (or abdomen). The procedure may vary according to the patient's health condition. It may range from organ removal (like gall bladder removal) to repair (like hernia repair).
Definition and Types of Abdominal Surgery
Appendectomy Surgery
The procedure refers to appendix removal and is often suggested for appendix infection (appendicitis). The appendix is a finger-shaped organ connected to the large intestine. Untreated appendicitis can lead to problems like:
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Bursting of the appendix
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Blocked bowels
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Internal injuries
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Bleeding
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Wound infection.
Cholecystectomy Surgery
This surgery aims for gallbladder removal, which is an organ present on the upper right abdomen underneath the liver. The gallbladder is responsible for collecting the bile juice from the liver and storing it. The following issues can need this procedure:
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Gallstones in either gallbladder or bile duct
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Gallbladder inflammation
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Large gallbladder lumps
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Pancreas inflammation
Colectomy Surgery
It involves colon removal, a part of the large intestine at the end of the digestive tract. Colectomy helps in treating and preventing various health issues, including:
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Severe bleeding from the colon
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Blocked colon
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Colon cancer or its risk of development
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Crohn’s disease
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Ulcerative colitis
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Diverticulitis
Pancreatectomy Surgery
This surgery focuses on the pancreas removal, a crucial part of the digestive system. Many health conditions require pancreatectomy for treatment. It includes
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Pancreatic cancer
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Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours
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Pancreatic cysts
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Chronic pancreas inflammation
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Metastatic kidney cancer
Splenectomy Surgery
It means spleen removal, which is present on the upper left of the abdomen and beneath the ribcage. This organ helps regulate the blood cell count and remove old, damaged red blood cells. Your doctor may recommend it under the following conditions:
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Ruptured spleen
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Blood disorders like thalassemia
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Cancer
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Infection
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Enlarged spleen
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The tumour inside the spleen
Hernia repair (Herniorrhaphy) Surgery
It is a medical condition that occurs due to a weakened abdominal wall. The surgery aims to repair weak tissues and muscles to ensure the organs stay in place.
Bariatric surgery
This surgery helps reduce weight by making some changes in the digestive system. It is often suggested to people who are at high risk of developing health issues like:
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High blood pressure
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Heart problems and stroke
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Type 2 diabetes
Reasons for Abdominal Surgery
As discussed above, the reasons for abdominal surgery can vary according to the type of surgery. Broadly, the reasons are:
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Trauma
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Infection
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Tumour
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Inflammation
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Obstruction
Preparation for Abdominal Surgery
Abdominal surgery requires a lot of physical strength. Hence, it is better to prepare yourself for the surgery. It will help with a speedy recovery and reduce pain. General measures that you should take just before the surgery are:
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If you need to take any prescribed medicine, try it with just a sip of water.
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Avoid consuming medications like aspirin and ibuprofen.
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Avoid wearing makeup and nail polish.
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Bring all the essential documents, like insurance policies and current prescriptions.
Medical Evaluation
It helps in getting information about past and present medical status. Thus, the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and other experts will get complete information for the surgery. This evaluation's result can also help reduce patient anxiety, delay, etc. The exact evaluation depends on the present health issues. Some general preoperative measures for evaluating the risk include the following:
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Measuring all the vitals like blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, etc.
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Conducting blood and urine tests
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A questionnaire to determine whether you are ready for the surgery.
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Sometimes, one may need to undergo a chest X-ray or ECG.
Dietary Restrictions
A preoperative diet plan can help curb specific surgical challenges, and hence, your expert may suggest a list of food items that you should altogether avoid before surgery:
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One day before surgery, you should avoid consuming whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Also, cut your dairy intake to two servings.
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A few months before surgery, you should avoid unhealthy food options like processed snacks and cookies, as these lack nutritional value.
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If you consume any vitamin supplements, you should discuss them before the surgery, as you may need to discontinue them for a short time.
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You can consume enhanced grains like rice and white bread, as these easily break down in the digestive tract.
Lifestyle Changes
You should change your habits to improve your overall health. It includes:
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Quitting smoking as it can negatively influence your body and lead to various complications during abdominal surgery. One should stop smoking at least six weeks before the surgery.
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Regulate your blood sugar, as it can hamper the recovery of your surgical wounds. To control your blood sugar levels, you can ask for suggestions from your surgeon.
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Regular exercise can help improve lung and heart health. Thus, improving the recovery rate. You can start with simpler exercises like brisk walking, jogging, etc.
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Reduce consumption of alcohol, as it can help reduce various complications.
The Abdominal Surgery Procedure
The entire surgical procedure varies according to the surgical technique and present health condition of the patient. But we can divide the procedure into three parts: anaesthesia, incisions, and the surgical process.
Anaesthesia
This part plays an important role in numbing the area. For abdominal surgery, your doctor will balance anaesthesia with other compounds like opioids, neuromuscular blockers, and inhalational anaesthetics. Apart from anaesthesia, you will also get intravenous (IV) hydration, antibiotics, and medication.
Incision and Access
The region and length of the incision play an essential role in accessing the organ and making the surgery less likely to cause potential complications. Usually, midline incisions are versatile in most abdominal surgeries. But the incision type and area depend on the surgery type. Your doctor may communicate the entire surgical process beforehand.
Surgery Techniques
There are broadly two types of surgical techniques. These are:
- Laparotomy requires a large surgical incision through the abdominal wall to the groin. Hence, the recovery time in this surgical technique is higher than in laparoscopic surgery.
- Laparoscopic surgery involves using a tiny camera that helps navigate the internal area without making a large incision. Hence, it leads to minimal blood loss and faster recovery.
Risks and Complications of Abdominal Surgery
The risks and complications may vary according to the patient’s condition. Some of the common complications are:
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Blood clots
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Excessive bleeding
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Infection
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Swelling around the surgical area
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Scars
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Nausea
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Bloating
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Vomiting
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Damage to an organ
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Paralytic ileus
Though some are temporary and do not affect the outcome of the surgery, some complications can lead to other health issues. Let’s understand them.
Infection
Different levels of infection occur, and these include:
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Superficial: Affects the skin
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Deep: Affects skin, muscles, and tissue
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Organ/space: Affects internal organs/space of the surgical area
A specific set of people are more vulnerable to these infections. These consist:
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People with diabetes and poor control of their sugar levels
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People with weak immunity
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Obese
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Smokers
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Corticosteroids consumer
Blood Clots - Some studies show that such complications are relatively higher in elderly patients. It is as high as around 43%. Usually, it occurs due to inactivity. Your doctor may suggest a way to prevent its occurrence.
Organ Damage - After the surgery, one can experience swelling of the abdominal organs. Unnoticed and untreated swelling can gradually increase in size and create extreme pressure in the abdomen. The organs may squeeze, and the blood supply may be cut down, leading to organ damage. Hence, discussing every type of discomfort with your doctor after surgery is essential.
Recovery and Aftercare - Aftercare includes various components like surveillance, prevention, and treating postoperative complications. It aims to reduce the mortality and morbidity rate after the surgery. It includes follow-up sessions for:
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Temperature monitoring
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Supervising the cardiovascular, respiratory, excretory, and digestive systems
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Surgical wound surveillance and care
Hospital Stay - After surgery, the experts can suggest you stay in the hospital for a few days. The duration depends on the type of surgery. Laparoscopic surgeries require shorter hospital stays than open surgeries. But usually, it is found that these patients need to stay a little longer in the hospital for observation than others.
Pain Management - Pain is quite common after surgery, and its management is the most crucial part for doctors. Acute pain can subside in a few days. Apart from reducing pain, the pain management programme has various objectives, like helping prevent complications, healing the body, and improving sleep and mental well-being. To achieve the same, you may need to follow a prescription.
Physical Therapy - It is an essential part of rehabilitation. You may need to have some sessions with a physiotherapist. They will suggest a few exercises to improve mobility and recovery speed. It will include the following exercises:
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Breathing exercises like inhaling from the nose and then exhaling from the mouth
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Walking short distances
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Simple stretching exercises for ankles, knees, and hips
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Abdominal exercises like pelvic tilting and knee rolling
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FAQs about Abdominal Surgery
Q. How Long Does Abdominal Surgery Take?
A. The surgery can take 2–6 hours, depending on the condition and associated complications.
Q. What is the Recovery Time for Abdominal Surgery?
A. The duration of complete recovery varies according to the surgery type and the patient’s conditions. For instance, in the case of open abdominal surgery with a large incision, it may take around two to three months to regain complete mobility.
Q. When Can I Return to Work After Abdominal Surgery?
A. After the surgery, the patient can return to their daily life after 4-6 weeks. But you should avoid lifting weights.
