Colon Resection: Recovery Time | Diet After Colon Resection Surgery

Colon resection is removal of colon (large intestine) partly or entirely. A colon resection surgery is performed in conditions such as bowel obstruction, strictures, colon cancer, crohn’s disease, volvulus of intestine etc. Colon resection can be performed by laparoscopic method or opening the abdomen by an incision.

Recovery Time For Colon Resection

In open colon surgery most of the patients stay for 7 to 10 days in the hospital, where as the time of recovery is three to five days in laparoscopic colon resection, if the recovery is uneventful.

Returning to work or resuming normal routine activities varies from patient to patient.

Some patients will recover after few weeks while others may take longer to start their activities. Averagely after six weeks the patient can start his routine, if there are no post operative complications.

Diet For Colon Resection

A person who has undergone colon resection surgery is recommended soft diet for the first 2 to 10 weeks after the surgery. He will then be advised to switch on for a regular diet depending on his progress and his tolerance for normal solid food.

Diet After Colon Resection Surgery

Few of these guidelines are generally recommended by doctors after the colon resection surgery.

  • Eat small frequent meals.
  • Eat foods easy to digest such as soups, yogurt, gelatin, pudding avoid bread, spicy and gas producing foods such as corns, beans, lentils, cauliflower and cabbage.
  • Do not chew gum or tobacco.
  • Do not eat raw fruits and vegetables.