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Surgery in 2 Weeks

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 12/29/2009 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
The docs got the results of my MRI and agreed that surgery must be done (strictures are very narrow with lots of scar tissue.)  I will lose between 30 - 60 cm (1-2 ft) of small bowel depending on whether or not strictureplasty is possible.  If they do only a resection with no strictureplasty, I thought it would be best if they went in via laparoscopy (small incision) but the docs seem to think that it must be done via laparotomy (open surgery.)  My strictures are concentrated in the jujunum (mid small bowel.) I was wondering if anyone has any information about laparoscopy versus open surgery.  I have sent my surgeon the info -- and he specializes in laparoscopy so it's not like he is avoiding it for his own personal reasons -- so there must be a good reason why he wants to do open surgery instead.  Please let me know if you have any thoughts.
Posted 12/29/2009 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
I had an open resection a week ago. The surgeon said it's easier to see exactly what's going on when it's oven versus laproscopic. For mine, at least, he wanted to make sure there was only the one area affected, but he said he'd look around to make sure everything else is in good shape. If it's more of an exploratory surgery versus a fixed area, open is the obvious choice. Maybe that is your surgeon's reasoning.
Posted 12/29/2009 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
I had mine done 10 days ago, they tried lap but had to go to open during the procedure. My doc said he had to due to the amount of scar tissue. Also if you have had open in the past it increases your chances of needing open again. Hope this helps and good luck!
Posted 12/30/2009 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
Mine was done in Feb. and was done lapro. I had severe scar tissue and they removed 18". I wish I could post pictures as it is unbelievable in size. The surgeon just made the belly button incision bigger to accomodate the removal.
Either way I wish you luck and a fast recovery.
Posted 12/30/2009 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
Many times doctors try to do the surgery via laprascope but because of excessive damage or scar tissue that have to convert to open. I am thinking the location and damage you are showing is why the open will be required. Hope your surgery leads to a long long remission. And be sure you take maintainence meds afterwards so you don't have to have a repeat anytime soon.

Good luck
Gail*Nanners*
Posted 12/30/2009 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
I'm thinking like Nanners, that it's related to scar tissue & location. I'm having a resection of my old resection site in 2 weeks and it's planned laproscopic but I've been warned he might have to do an open incision for those reasons.

Good luck with your surgery, hope it brings you some relief!

Lorraine
Posted 12/31/2009 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
The doc just emailed me and said that because I'd recently had a perforation that lap was just too dangerous. Thanks all for your responses.
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