Fistula Surgery

This operation involves the removal of the right (ascending) colon and a variable portion of the terminal (last part) of the small bowel (ileum) and transverse colon. The grey area of the diagram above.

The exact margins of resection are at the discretion of the surgeon and are appropriate to each patient and condition treated. The operation is carried out for a variety of disorders but most commonly for bowel cancer and Crohn’s disease.

The operation is usually performed laparoscopically but for many reasons an open procedure may be necessary. The bowel is freed from its attachments within the abdominal cavity and its blood supply is divided. The bowel is then cut, the diseased segment removed and the small intestine and colon are rejoined with stitches and/or staples.